Casualties unknown

Pilot's Research Flight Ends with Ice Breakthrough on Frozen Lake (N24149)

White Mountain, AK, US

On November 7, 2000, a Piper PA-18 (registration N24149) was involved in an aviation accident near White Mountain, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was the presence of weak ice. 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 commercial pilot conducting caribou survey research for the University of Alaska Fairbanks landed on a frozen lake. While taxiing toward shore, the tundra tires broke through the ice, damaging the right landing gear strut and bending the right wing lift strut.

Accident Details

The commercial certificated pilot reported that he was conducting research at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. As part of his research, the pilot was conducting a survey of caribou. The pilot stated that he landed on the surface of a frozen lake in a tundra tire equipped airplane and was taxiing toward the shore. As the airplane neared the shoreline, the airplane tires broke through the ice.

Damage

The airplane sustained damage to the right landing gear strut, and the right wing lift strut was bent. No other damage was reported.

Background

The pilot was operating under commercial certificate privileges for a research project. The specific aircraft type and registration were not disclosed in the report. The frozen lake serving as the landing site was not identified by name. No injuries were reported.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001226X45472. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.