Casualties unknown

Aircraft Noses Over After Tire Deflation During Gravel Road Landing (N115HP)

Rapids, MT, US

On August 9, 2003, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N115HP) was involved in an aviation accident near Rapids, MT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the landing gear tire valve stem and the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. The deflation of the tire and rough/uneven terrain were factors. 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 reported that during a landing on a gravel road, the right tire deflated, causing the aircraft to enter a ditch and nose over. Post-accident examination revealed a broken valve stem.

Landing

The pilot overflew his intended landing site, a gravel road, to assess its condition and the prevailing wind direction. He then executed a standard traffic pattern approach and landed to the east. The gravel road was described as 25 feet wide, down sloping to the east, and 1,000 feet in length, with a slightly winding alignment.

Incident

During the landing roll, as the aircraft decelerated through approximately 35-40 mph, the pilot detected the aircraft drifting to the right and began corrective action. He then observed that the right tire had deflated and was rolling on the rim. The right wheel subsequently entered a shallow ditch at the road's edge, causing the aircraft to depart the landing surface. The aircraft continued over rough, down-sloping terrain before nosing over and coming to rest inverted.

Post-Accident Examination

The pilot, who also held a mechanic's license, examined the right wheel after the accident and found the valve stem to be broken.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20030814X01329. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.