Accident Overview
On April 25, 2009, at approximately 1630 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-135 airplane, registration N3256B, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing on water-covered tidal mud flats. The accident site was located about 6 miles south of Palmer, Alaska. The flight was operated as a personal visual flight rules (VFR) flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Wolf Lake Airport, Palmer, at about 1530.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The airplane was equipped with tundra tires. The sole occupant, the pilot, was not injured. The pilot was not certificated; he did not possess a current medical certificate or a student pilot certificate at the time of the accident. His third-class medical certificate had been administratively denied on August 1, 2008, due to two previous convictions of driving while intoxicated (DWI) within the preceding 10 years. According to Alaska State Troopers, the pilot had been convicted of DWI in 2000, 2002, and 2004, and was charged with a fourth DWI (a felony) on August 30, 2008.
Events Leading to the Accident
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on the evening of the accident, the pilot reported that after a successful landing on the mud-covered tidal flats, he attempted to turn the airplane around for taxi. A gust of wind lifted the tail, causing the airplane to nose over. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical issues. He also said that he was a student pilot with a third-class medical certificate, but when asked for the date of his most recent medical exam, he could not provide it.
Witnesses interviewed by the Alaska State Trooper and the NTSB provided additional accounts. One witness, camping nearby, reported seeing the airplane flying recklessly close to the water. The airplane's large tundra tires touched down on the water, and it appeared to "water-ski" across the surface on the main landing gear wheels. The witness stated that the airplane performed five or six touch-and-go "ski" landings on the water. On the accident touch-and-go, the main wheels struck a sand bar, causing the airplane to nose over in shallow water.
Post-Accident Actions
After the nose-over, the pilot and some friends righted the airplane using an all-terrain vehicle, towed it into brush out of sight, and the pilot flew it back to Wolf Lake Airport. The pilot told witnesses, "Don't call the cops." When the Alaska State Trooper arrived at the scene, the airplane had already been removed and hidden. The pilot was not present. Photographs provided to the trooper showed substantial damage to the left wing lift strut, fuselage, and rudder. The pilot did not submit the required NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report form (6120.1).
Investigation Findings
The NTSB investigation documented the sequence of events and the pilot's lack of certification. The pilot's medical certificate had been denied, and he had a history of DWI convictions. The airplane had no preaccident mechanical problems. The accident was attributed to the pilot's decision to land on water-covered tidal flats and the subsequent wind gust during the turnaround, leading to a nose-over. However, no probable cause was formally stated in the source.