Aircraft nosed over during landing on gravel bar

Casualties unknown • Kotzebue, AK, US

A private pilot operating a hunting and guide business experienced a nose-over accident while landing a tailwheel aircraft on a remote river gravel bar.

What happened

A certificated private pilot was performing a landing on a gravel bar located near a remote river. The aircraft, which was equipped with tundra tires and featured a tail wheel configuration, was being operated as part of a hunting and guide business.

The pilot initiated the landing toward the west. During the approach, the pilot's vision was obscured because the sun was shining in his eyes. While on the approach, the left main landing gear made contact with an unseen log on the terrain. This impact caused the airplane to nose over.

The accident resulted in damage to the vertical stabilizer, the right wing, the lift struts, and the landing gear. At the time of the event, calculations determined the sun was at a 5.2 degree elevation with a true azimuth of 269.6 degrees from the site of the accident.

Probable cause

The pilot's vision was obscured by the sun during the landing approach, leading to the left main landing gear striking an unseen log.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1998-09-11 Piper PA-18 accident near Kotzebue, AK?

A private pilot operating a hunting and guide business experienced a nose-over accident while landing a tailwheel aircraft on a remote river gravel bar.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1998-09-11 involved a Piper PA-18, registration N7682D, operated by Hardy Alaska Adventures, at Kotzebue, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's vision was obscured by the sun during the landing approach, leading to the left main landing gear striking an unseen log.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X10978. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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