No fatalities

23 Aug 2009: PIPER PA-12 — BUSH JONATHAN — Dillingham, AK

Dillingham, AK, United States

On 23 Aug 2009, a PIPER PA-12 operated by BUSH JONATHAN was involved in an aviation accident near Dillingham, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to land on unsuitable soft, wet terrain, which resulted in a nose-over on landing. 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

A private pilot reported his tailwheel airplane nosed over during landing on soft, wet terrain at an off-airport site, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. No preaccident mechanical issues were noted.

Accident Overview

A private pilot was conducting a personal flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The flight concluded with a landing at an off-airport, tundra-covered site. During the landing roll, the main wheels sank into the soft, wet terrain, causing the airplane to nose over. The nose-over resulted in substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

Sequence of Events

The pilot reported that the landing was performed at an off-airport site covered with tundra. As the airplane touched down and rolled, the main wheels penetrated the soft, wet ground. This caused the airplane to pitch forward onto its nose, leading to the damage of the left wing lift strut. The pilot did not report any other damage or injuries. The accident occurred during daytime conditions, although the specific time was not provided.

Aircraft Damage

The left wing lift strut sustained substantial damage as a result of the nose-over. No other damage to the airframe was reported. The airplane was a tailwheel type, but the specific make and model were not disclosed in the source.

Pilot Information

The pilot was a private pilot operating under Part 91 for personal reasons. No additional details about the pilot's experience or qualifications were provided.

Weather and Terrain

The landing area was described as off-airport and covered with tundra. The terrain was soft and wet, which caused the main wheels to sink. The source did not specify any other weather conditions or visibility.

Mechanical Conditions

The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. This suggests that the accident was entirely due to the terrain condition and not a mechanical failure.

Regulatory Context

The flight was conducted under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, which governs general aviation operations. The accident occurred at the conclusion of a personal flight.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotDecision related to condition

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome