On 16 Jun 2019, a Piper PA18 150 was involved in an aviation accident near Beluga, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in a noseover. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A tailwheel-equipped airplane nosed over after touching down on soft tundra during a landing in a remote area, resulting in substantial wing damage. The pilot noted that a better visual assessment might have prevented the incident.
Incident Summary
A tailwheel-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings when it nosed over during a landing on soft tundra in a remote area. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot's Account
According to the pilot, the airplane touched down on the soft tundra, "causing the airplane to nose over." The pilot further stated that a better visual assessment of the landing area may have prevented this accident. The pilot had previously landed in the same remote area.
The airplane was equipped with a tailwheel configuration. The landing was conducted on soft tundra terrain, which the pilot identified as a factor in the nose-over event. The resulting damage was limited to both wings, with no mention of injuries or other damage.