Sheffield Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chickaloon, Alaska 99674
Sunday, October 17, 2004 11:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire and tailwheel-equipped airplane on a remote, snow-covered airstrip. The airstrip was oriented north/south, and was about 1,200 feet long and 50 feet wide. The pilot indicated that the surface of the airstrip was covered by about six inches of snow. The pilot said that during the landing roll, the left main landing gear tire dropped into a rut that was filled with snow. The airplane then ground looped to the left, and departed off the left side of the airstrip, into an area of brush. The airplane's right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane received damage to the right wingtip, the left wingtip, and the propeller.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a collision with terrrain during the landing roll. Factors contributing to the accident were a rough/rutted and snow-covered airstrip surface, and an inadvertent ground loop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/17/2004
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone --
Event City Chickaloon
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99674
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 622244N
Event Location Longitude 1472828W
Event Location Airport Sheffield Strip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 0
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18171
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Oct 18 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5057Y
NTSB Number ANC05LA009
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 18-7890
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Richard A. Kinmon Sr.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Wasilla
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99654
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BGQ
Departure City Big Lake
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Chickaloon
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 21 2005 6:42PM
User who most recently changed record LABJ
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 1200
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --