Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cordova, Alaska 99574
Tuesady, July 25, 2000 11:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private certificated pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a gravel surface. The pilot applied the brakes to come to a stop, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the propeller, wings, windshield, and rudder.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's excessive application of the airplane's brakes.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/25/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone --
Event City CORDOVA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99574
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport MERLE K. (MUDHOLE) SMITH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PACV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 42
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1200 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PAC
Elevation of weather observation facility 42
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 214
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 817
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Jul 25 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1218
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1755P
NTSB Number ANC00LA094
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18
Aircraft Serial Number 18-4075
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 19 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 9
Airframe Hours 3429
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CONRAD A. JOHNSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1056
Aircraft Owner City CORDOVA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99574
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ALVIN B. FULTON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 272
Operator City CORDOVA
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99574
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CKU
Departure City
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PACV
Destination City
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:08AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 1875
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --