Piper PA-18-160 N18VF

Summary

On 6 July 2005 at about 21:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-160 registered N18VF, operated by Kenneth W. Wolter, was involved in an accident near Hope, 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

6 July 2005 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Hope, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.5000, -150.3333

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-160

Registration

N18VF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Kenneth W. Wolter

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anchorage → Hope

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC05CA096

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's misjudged distance and altitude during an approach to land at an off-airport landing site, which resulted in an undershoot, and subsequent in-flight collision with trees and tundra-covered terrain. A factor in the accident was trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo private pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off airport site that was surrounded by trees. Just before touchdown, the pilot inadvertently allowed the airplane to descend below the intended glide path, and the left wing struck a stand of trees. The airplane pivoted to the left, and the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer struck the tundra-covered terrain. The airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing spar, and the right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.