Event ANC04LA039

Factual narrative

On April 11, 2004, about 0800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N1755P, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during the landing roll, and subsequent nose over at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The solo student pilot was not injured. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 11, the pilot said he was distracted by a radio call from the tower while on downwind for landing. He said the tower advised he was cleared to land, and issued a wake turbulence caution for a departing jet airplane. He said after touchdown, he overcorrected for drift, and may have applied too much power. The airplane subsequently exited the runway to the right, and traversed deep snow on the side of the runway for about 20 yards before it nosed over. The pilot said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. He said the airplane received damage to the rudder, left wing, nose, and propeller. The student pilot lost directional control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during the landing roll of a touch and go landing. The airplane veered off the runway into the snow and nosed over. The airplane sustained damage to the rudder, left wing, nose, and propeller. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12