Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain proper alignment with the landing surface. A factor relating to the accident was: the rough/uneven landing surface.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was landing on a narrow unimproved airstrip. The airplane's right wheel rolled off the airstrip's surface and struck a hole. The airplane nosed over.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 3, 1995, at 1800 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4232Z, registered to and operated by the pilot, nosed over during landing on an unnamed and unimproved airstrip located 10 miles south of Fort Greely, Alaska, near Big Delta, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Fairbanks, Alaska, and the destination was the airstrip. A visual flight rules flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and his passenger were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, the airstrip was narrow and the airplane's right wheel rolled off the airstrip. The wheel struck a hole and the airplane nosed over. During a telephone conversation with the pilot, he was told that he would receive an NTSB Form 6120.1/2 and he agreed to complete the form. The NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was sent to the pilot on three separate occasions, June 20, 1995, July 27, 1995 and September 29, 1995. He did not respond to any of the requests. -