No fatalities

27 Jul 2013: PIPER PA-18-135 — Fairbanks, AK

Fairbanks, AK, United States

On 27 Jul 2013, a PIPER PA-18-135 was involved in an aviation accident near Fairbanks, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate evaluation of his landing area, which resulted in contact with 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

A tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped airplane collided with brush on the side of a private grass airstrip during the landing roll. The aircraft turned 90 degrees left, skidded, and sustained substantial damage to the right wing. No preaccident mechanical issues were reported.

Accident Details

A pilot was landing a tailwheel and tundra tire-equipped airplane at a private, remote grass airstrip. The pilot reported that he performed a low pass over the runway to assess the landing area, which appeared acceptable. Subsequently, he executed a normal landing. However, during the landing roll, the left wing of the airplane impacted brush growing along the side of the airstrip. The collision caused the airplane to yaw 90 degrees to the left. The aircraft then skidded along the ground, coming to a stop after sustaining substantial damage to the right wing.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation. No further details were provided regarding the specific model of the airplane, the date of the accident, or any injuries to the pilot.

Damage Assessment

The right wing of the airplane was substantially damaged as a result of the ground skid. The left wing also struck brush but the extent of damage to that wing was not specified. The grass airstrip was private and remote, with no mention of other aircraft or personnel involved.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome