Accident Details
On April 1, 2008, about 0900 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-22 airplane, registration N5840Z, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote, ice-covered lake, approximately 15 miles northeast of Ugashik, Alaska. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Ugashik Airport about 0830.
Damage and Sequence
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), the pilot reported that during the landing roll on the lake, the main landing gear tires encountered an area of water, causing the airplane to nosed over. The accident resulted in structural damage to the wings, wing lift struts, and the vertical stabilizer.
Investigation Status
The FAA inspector received a telephone call from the pilot providing the details of the event. No further information from the investigation has been released.