NTSB Factual Report

On August 10, 2002, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N83272, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a landing on rough/uneven terrain at a remote airstrip, about 25 miles east-northeast of Copper Center, 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 Gulkana Airport, Gulkana, Alaska, about 2020.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 11, the pilot reported that he was landing at a hunting camp to pick up a passenger. The camp was located along the Chickokna River in the Wrangell-Saint Elias National Preserve. The pilot said the airstrip, oriented east/west, is about 800 feet long and 9 feet wide. He said he landed toward the west in an area of tundra and rocks, and during the landing roll, the right tire hit rocks and the airplane bounced. He applied the brakes as the right tire entered bushes along the edge of the landing area. The airplane nosed over and received damage to the propeller, the left wing lift strut, the right wing, and the rudder.

The airplane's emergency locator transmitter (ELT) was activated during the accident, and search personnel located the airplane the following day.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, resulting in a nose-over during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was rough/uneven terrain.