Tailwheel Aircraft Nosed Over During Landing in Alaska

Casualties unknown • Barrow, AK, US

A tailwheel-equipped airplane nosed over during a landing on tundra near a fishing camp in Alaska after encountering soft mud.

What happened

At the conclusion of an on-demand air taxi flight, a pilot was performing a landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a large area of tundra located next to a fishing camp. The landing area consisted of grass approximately eight to ten inches tall. Following heavy rain across the entire north coast of Alaska the previous day, the pilot executed a landing into the wind, heading toward the north.

During the landing roll, as the pilot applied the brakes, the aircraft bounced over an unseen bump and became airborne by approximately 12 inches. Upon touchdown, the main wheels encountered soft mud. This caused the airplane to nose over, resulting in damage to the propeller, wing lift struts, vertical stabilizer, and the rudder. There were no injuries reported.

Probable cause

The aircraft encountered soft mud after bouncing over an unseen bump during the landing roll, leading to a nose-over.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2000-08-12 Cessna 185F accident near Barrow, AK?

A tailwheel-equipped airplane nosed over during a landing on tundra near a fishing camp in Alaska after encountering soft mud.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2000-08-12 involved a Cessna 185F, registration N20752, at Barrow, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft encountered soft mud after bouncing over an unseen bump during the landing roll, leading to a nose-over.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001212X21631. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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