Casualties unknown

Pilot Noses Over During Grass Strip Landing at Hunting Campsite (N7761D)

Nenana, AK, US

On September 13, 2005, a Piper PA-18 (registration N7761D) was involved in an aviation accident near Nenana, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of control and a nose over. 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 private pilot nosed over his airplane while landing at a grass camping site, resulting in structural damage to the rudder, left wing, and left wing lift strut.

Incident Overview

A private certificated pilot experienced a nose-over during landing at a hunting campsite, causing structural damage to the aircraft. The pilot had previously landed at the same location. The landing area is a grass-covered strip oriented northwest/southeast, measuring approximately 600 feet in length and 12 feet in width.

Landing Sequence

The pilot reported that he initiated the landing toward the southeast. During the landing roll, the main landing gear tires encountered soft terrain, leading to the nose-over. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated that a gust of wind caused a bounced landing. Upon the second contact with the ground, he was unable to lower the tail of the airplane. The tail began to rise, resulting in the aircraft nosing over.

Damage Assessment

The accident resulted in structural damage to the rudder, the left wing, and the left wing lift strut.

Reported Wind Conditions

The pilot reported the wind at the time of the landing as 220 degrees magnetic at 8 knots, with gusts up to 10 knots.

Aircraft and Pilot Information

The pilot held a private certificate. No further details about the aircraft, registration, or pilot qualifications were provided in the report.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20051006X01589. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.