On 17 Jun 2012, a PIPER PA-18-150 operated by BECK JOSEPH S was involved in an aviation accident near Skwentna, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by the pilot choosing an unsuitable area of terrain for taxiing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A Piper aircraft sustained substantial damage to its empennage and left elevator after the right wheel dropped into a hidden hole during taxiing.
What happened
On June 17, 2012, a Piper PA-18-150 landed at a private airstrip in Skwentna, Alaska. During the taxi phase toward the parking area, the right wheel of N9488D entered a deep hole that was obscured by vegetation and located alongside the runway. The impact caused the aircraft to spin around, resulting in substantial damage to the left elevator and the empennage. There were no injuries reported in the accident.
The investigation
The investigation determined that the right wheel encountered a hidden, deep hole covered by vegetation. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical issues with the aircraft prior to the accident.
Probable cause
The accident was caused by the pilot choosing an unsuitable area of terrain for taxiing.