On March 27, 1997, a Piper PA-18 (registration N4055Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Chugiak, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A ski-equipped aircraft sustained damage to its right main landing gear and wing strut after touching down on a snowy area short of the paved runway.
What happened
The pilot was operating a ski-equipped airplane when he elected to land on a partially snow-covered area located short of the paved runway. The decision to deviate from the runway surface was made because the runway itself was devoid of snow, whereas the adjacent area offered suitable conditions for landing. During the rollout phase of the landing, the aircraft's right main landing gear collapsed. This structural failure resulted in damage to the right wing lift strut.
A witness who observed the accident confirmed that the airplane touched down well short of the paved runway surface. The witness noted that the touchdown occurred on patchy snow rather than the cleared pavement.
The investigation
Investigation details regarding the mechanical examination or specific failure modes of the landing gear are not provided in the source material.
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