Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska 99721
Monday, August 6, 2001 14:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial certificated pilot was landing at a remote airstrip. When the airplane touched down, the right main landing gear strut collapsed. The propeller struck the ground, and the leading edge of the right wing struck a large rock. The pilot activated the airplane's emergency locator transmitter, and a search and rescue helicopter picked up the pilot. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed extensive corrosion of the landing gear strut.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A failure of the landing gear strut assembly due to corrosion. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate maintenance of the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/6/2001
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone --
Event City ANAKTUVUK PASS
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99721
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 684242N
Event Location Longitude 1515312W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1355 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID PAKP
Elevation of weather observation facility 2107
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 154
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.84
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11414
NTSB Notification Source FAA REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Aug 6 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2155
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2002 1:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4167Z
NTSB Number ANC01LA116
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-8349
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 Jun 29 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours 4520
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ARCTIC NORTH GUIDING INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 55454
Aircraft Owner City NORTH POLE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99705
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PAKP
Departure City ANAKTUVUK PASS
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City ANAKTUVUK PASS
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 18 2002 3:32PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --