Casualties unknown

Aircraft Noses Over on Snowy Mountain Ridge After Wheels Encounter Deep Snow Depression (N9366D)

Noatak, AK, US

On September 21, 1996, a Piper PA-18 (registration N9366D) operated by Robert L. Eubank was involved in an aviation accident near Noatak, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot landed on a mountain ridge after snow was stamped down to 2-3 inches, but during rollout, wheels hit a depression with 8-10 inches of snow, causing the aircraft to nose over.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that approximately 18 inches of snow had fallen on a mountain ridge before the landing. The pilot, along with a guide and a client, prepared a landing area by stamping down the snow. They estimated the compacted snow depth to be between 2 and 3 inches. The pilot then landed the airplane on the prepared surface.

Sequence of Events

During the landing rollout, the airplane's wheels encountered a small depression where the snow depth was measured to be 8 to 10 inches. This sudden change in snow depth caused the aircraft to nose over. As a result of the nose-over, the propeller was bent and the wing lift strut was damaged.

Damage Assessment

The accident resulted in damage to the propeller and the wing lift strut. No other damage items were reported.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X06673. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.