Piper PA-18-160 N624MW

Summary

On 28 April 2005 at about 03:30 local time, a Piper PA-18-160 registered N624MW was involved in an accident near Wasilla, 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

28 April 2005 at 03:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Wasilla (PAWS)

Coordinates

61.5717, -149.5403

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-160

Registration

N624MW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wasilla → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC05LA065

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area, which resulted in a loss of control during the landing roll, and a collision with a ditch. A factor associated with the airplane was a leaking brake assembly and diminished braking efficiency.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was landing his tundra-tire equipped tailwheel airplane at the conclusion of a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight on a non-maintained dirt overrun of a hard-surfaced runway. During the landing roll, the tires encountered deep ruts and soft dirt, and the pilot stated that he was unable to maintain directional control. He indicated that the right brake felt flat and ineffective, and may have contributed to his difficulty in maintaining control. An aviation mechanic who repaired the airplane after the accident noted that the brake assembly had a slow fluid leak, and the braking action may have been diminished at the time of the accident. The mechanic said he replaced portions of the right brake assembly while repairing the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.