No fatalities

7 Aug 2008: PIPER PA-18 (N82057) — John T. Hester — Tyonek, AK

Tyonek, AK, United States

On 7 Aug 2008, a PIPER PA-18 (registration N82057) operated by John T. Hester was involved in an aviation accident near Tyonek, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's excessive speed and excessive application of brakes during the landing roll on soft, sandy terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

On August 6, 2008, a Piper PA-18 with tundra tires nosed over during the landing roll on a sandy airstrip near Tyonek, Alaska, causing substantial damage. The pilot was not injured.

Accident Details

On August 6, 2008, at approximately 1700 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, registration N82057, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote airstrip located about 16 miles west-southwest of Tyonek, Alaska. The flight was operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from the Lake Hood Strip in Anchorage, Alaska, at about 1615, and no flight plan was filed.

Pilot Report

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 7, the pilot reported that he was landing toward the southeast on a sandy area approximately 900 feet long and 50 feet wide. As he applied the brakes in an area of soft sand, the airplane nosed over.

Damage

The airplane received structural damage to the fuselage, left wing, left wing strut, and the vertical stabilizer.

Additional Information

In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, he noted in the recommendation section that the accident could have been prevented by landing "a little slower so as to not need any braking to get stopped before the soft sand, or land somewhere else."

Contributing factors

Causes

Incorrect use/operationPilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome