NTSB Factual Report

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.

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.