On October 20, 1995, a Piper PA-18 (registration N3183Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Girdwood, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to land on a gravel bar covered with soft sand, which caused the main wheels to sink and the airplane to nosed over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A private pilot attempted to land on a remote gravel bar recently covered by sand. The main wheels sank into the soft surface during the rollout, causing the aircraft to nosed over and sustain significant structural damage.
What happened
The certificated private pilot was operating an aircraft when attempting to land on a remote gravel bar that had recently been covered by sand. The available landing area was approximately 600 feet long. During the landing roll, the main wheels sank into the soft sand, causing the airplane to nosed over.
The investigation
The accident resulted in damage to the vertical stabilizer, rudder, propeller, and a wing lift strut.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to land on a gravel bar covered with soft sand, which caused the main wheels to sink and the airplane to nosed over.
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