PIPER PA22
Big Lake, AK — February 23, 2017
Event Information
| Date | February 23, 2017 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA17CA159 |
| Event ID | 20170228X43205 |
| Location | Big Lake, AK |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 61.53472, -149.81111 |
| Airport | BIG LAKE |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA22 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | IMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The contamination of snow and ice on the left main landing gear and brake, which prevented the wheel from rolling during touchdown and resulted in a nose-over.
Full Narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that after a couple touch-and-go landings at a nearby airport, he decided to land at a different airport to speak with a friend. He further reported that everything seemed normal during the touchdown on the snow-covered runway, but the airplane then "abruptly stopped and [nosed] over".
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the rudder.
The pilot reported that the inside of the left main landing gear and brake was "packed with ice" and had froze, which prevented the wheel from rotating during the landing roll.
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.