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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

May 17, 2003 · Piper PA-18-160 · N814JM

Kenai, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 17, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Kenai, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18-160
Tail Number
N814JM
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC03LA050

The pilot said he was landing at his private airstrip, and the wind drifted the airplane to the right of the landing tracks. He said the brush to the side of the tracks had not been cut, and was higher than normal. He said when the airplane encountered the brush during the landing roll, it nosed over. The pilot said the airplane sustained damage to one wing, the lift struts, rudder, landing gear, and fuselage. He said the wind may have been gusting to as high as 20 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to compensate for gusting wind conditions during the landing flare, which resulted in the airplane encountering brush, and nosing over. Factors contributing to the accident were high brush, and gusting winds.

Full Narrative

On May 16, 2003, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N814JM, sustained substantial damage after an on-ground encounter with terrain during the landing roll, about 5 miles northeast of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 at the time of the accident. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed the Port Alsworth Airport, Port Alsworth, Alaska, about 1630. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 20, the pilot said he was landing at his private airstrip, and the wind drifted the airplane to the right of the landing tracks. He said the brush to the side of the tracks had not been cut, and was higher than normal. He said when the airplane encountered the brush during the landing roll, it nosed over. The pilot said the airplane sustained damage to one wing, the lift struts, rudder, landing gear, and fuselage. He said the wind may have been gusting to as high as 20 knots.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:00 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway Length660 ft
Runway Width12 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18-160
Tail NumberN814JM
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B2B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 62 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind290° @ 15 kt, gusting 20 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data