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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 12, 2005 · Piper PA-18 · N1755P

Fairbanks, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 12, 2005
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Fairbanks, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Tail Number
N1755P
Operator
Kenneth a Thomas
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC05CA146

The airline transport certificated pilot was landing on a gravel surface area oriented east/west, that was about 700 feet long, and about 30 feet wide. The pilot stated he landed uphill toward the west, and about 20 feet after touchdown, a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane. The nose of the airplane veered to the right, and the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane received damage to the right wing, and the right wing lift strut. The pilot said that until the unexpected tailwind, the wind had been calm.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll, which resulted in a collision with a tree. A factor contributing to the accident was a tailwind.

Full Narrative

On September 11, 2005, about 1950 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N1755P, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a spruce tree during the landing roll at a remote landing area, about 40 miles south-southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Bradley Sky Ranch Airport, North Pole, Alaska, about 1905, and no flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 16, the pilot reported that he was landing on a gravel surface area oriented east/west, that was about 700 feet long, and about 30 feet wide. The pilot stated he landed uphill toward the west, and about 20 feet after touch down, a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane. The nose of the airplane veered to the right, and the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane received damage to the right wing, and the right wing lift strut. The pilot said that until the unexpected tailwind, the wind had been calm.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:50 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18
Tail NumberN1755P
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorKenneth a Thomas
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 36 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data