Piper PA-18-150 N3578Z

Summary

On 27 February 2009 at about 21:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N3578Z, operated by Nance Gary L, was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, 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

27 February 2009 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

65.6333, -146.9517

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N3578Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Nance Gary L

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fairbanks → Fairbanks

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC09CA033

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which resulted in the main landing gear collapsing during taxi.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot said he landed the ski-equipped airplane on a snow-covered area, but due to the rough terrain the left main landing gear collapsed during taxi. An inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the left main landing gear attachment to the fuselage that required reinforcement of the fuselage, and replacement of the attachment. The pilot said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot said he should have chosen a better operating area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.