ANC00LA134

Factual narrative

On September 28, 2000, about 1900 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-105 airplane, N5489H, sustained substantial damage while landing at a private airstrip located about 10 miles northeast of Slana, Alaska, at 62 degrees, 43 minutes north latitude, 143 degrees, 55 minutes west longitude. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Gakona, Alaska, about 1830. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on September 29, the pilot reported that while making a low pass over a snow-covered airstrip, he inadvertently allowed the main wheels to touch down. He said that as the airplane touched down, the main wheels contacted deep snow on the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wing lift struts, and the rudder. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The pilot did not submit a Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2). The certificated private pilot was making a low pass over a snow-covered airstrip, when he inadvertently allowed the main wheels to touch down. As the airplane touched down, the main wheels contacted deep snow on the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wing lift struts, and the rudder. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The pilot did not submit a Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2). Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12