Piper PA-18 N2561N

Summary

On 20 July 1996 at about 19:59 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N2561N, operated by Tyrell G. Ross, was involved in an accident near McGrath, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 July 1996 at 19:59

Classification

Accident

Location

McGrath, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Mc Grath (MCG)

Coordinates

63.6105, -154.7798

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N2561N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Tyrell G. Ross

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kotzebue → Palmer

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC96LA105

Nobody was injured.

The improper and unauthorized repair of the main landing gear by the pilot, and the pilot's decision to operate the airplane with known deficiencies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the left, over-sized Tundra tire deflated and the left wing subsequently struck the ground while he was taxiing for takeoff at Mc Grath, Alaska. The pilot was involved in an accident a week earlier with the same airplane when the main landing gear collapsed while landing at a rural mining airstrip. At the previous accident site, the pilot made unauthorized repairs to the landing gear and wing lift struts. He fashioned a main gear leg from iron water pipe, and taped boards to the lift struts. He then elected to fly the airplane to Palmer, Alaska, so that additional repairs could be made. He made an interim stop at Mc Grath for gas, but did not seek repairs from any aviation repair facility prior to his attempted departure. Discussion with Tundra tire experts disclosed that proper landing gear geometry is essential for safe operation. If the landing gear geometry is incorrect, additional side loads will be placed on the tire, which may cause it to rotate on the rim, slicing the valve stem and allowing the tire to deflate.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.