NTSB Factual Report

On September 13, 2005, about 1345 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7761D, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote landing area, about 44 miles southwest of Nenana, 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 private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Nenana airport, about 1300, 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 14, the pilot reported that he was landing at a hunting campsite, where he had landed in the past. The grass-covered landing area is oriented northwest/southeast, and is about 600 feet long, and about 12 feet wide. The pilot said that he landed toward the southeast, and during the landing roll, the main landing gear tires encountered soft terrain. The airplane then nosed over and received structural damage to the rudder, the left wing, and the left wing lift strut.

In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported that during the landing, a gust of wind resulted in a bounced landing. On the second contact with the landing area, the pilot indicated that he was unable to lower the tail of the airplane, and it began to rise, which resulted in a nose over. He reported the wind conditions as 220 degrees magnetic at 8 knots, gusts to 10 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and a nose over.