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NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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July 26, 1987 · Piper PA-18-150 · N6978B

Levelock, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 26, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Levelock, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-150
Tail Number
N6978B
Operator
Jerold Lee Vantrease
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC87LA109

AS THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE WAS COMPLETING HIS LANDING ROLL AT THE UNATTENDED AIRPORT, THREE CHILDREN, RIDING AN ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV), PULLED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND WERE STRUCK BY THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ACFT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE VEHICLE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP BEFORE COLLIDING WITH IT. TRACKS ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAYS INDICATED THEY WERE USED BY VARIOUS VEHICLES AS A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE. THESE TRACKS WERE NOT LEVEL OR STRAIGHT AND MANY INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLES MAKING THEM FREQUENTLY PULLED UP ONTO THE RUNWAYS WHICH WERE SMOOTH SURFACED. THERE WERE NUMEROUS AREAS OUTSIDE THE RUNWAY EDGES WHERE AN INDIVIDUALS VIEW OF THE RUNWAY WOULD BE OBSTRUCTED.

Full Narrative

AS THE PILOT OF THE PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE WAS COMPLETING HIS LANDING ROLL AT THE UNATTENDED AIRPORT, THREE CHILDREN, RIDING AN ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE (ATV), PULLED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND WERE STRUCK BY THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ACFT. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE VEHICLE BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP BEFORE COLLIDING WITH IT. TRACKS ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAYS INDICATED THEY WERE USED BY VARIOUS VEHICLES AS A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE. THESE TRACKS WERE NOT LEVEL OR STRAIGHT AND MANY INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLES MAKING THEM FREQUENTLY PULLED UP ONTO THE RUNWAYS WHICH WERE SMOOTH SURFACED. THERE WERE NUMEROUS AREAS OUTSIDE THE RUNWAY EDGES WHERE AN INDIVIDUALS VIEW OF THE RUNWAY WOULD BE OBSTRUCTED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:00 AKDT
Nearest AirportLEVELOCK (0nm N)
Runway29
Runway Length1915 ft
Runway Width65 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18-150
Tail NumberN6978B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorJerold Lee Vantrease
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 66 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind315° @ 15 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

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Appendix: Source Data