PIPER J3C 65
Talkeetna, AK, October 10, 2013
Event Information
| Date | October 10, 2013 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| Location | Talkeetna, AK |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 62.61889, -150.95889 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
| NTSB Number | ANC14CA004 |
| Event ID | 20131029X42326 |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | J3C 65 |
| Registration # | N70604 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's decision to make contact with an unsuitable landing surface, resulting in a nose over.
Full Narrative
The pilot was performing a low pass of a snow-covered off-airport landing site, in a wheel-equipped airplane, to determine the condition of the snow pack. He was dragging the main landing gear on the landing surface, but the snow was deeper than expected, and the airplane nosed over sustaining substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.