On 5 Sep 2019, a Piper PA18 150 was involved in an aviation accident near Palmer, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain a proper descent rate, which resulted in a hard landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported a hard landing on a dry lakebed, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot maneuvered to avoid another airplane but landed hard.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during a landing on a dry lakebed, he was the second aircraft to land following a friend's airplane. While executing a right turn from base to final, he realized he was too close to the preceding airplane. To avoid a potential conflict, he decided to make an additional right turn and land in a clearing instead of proceeding to the intended landing area.
Landing and Damage
The airplane touched down hard and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.