NTSB Factual Report

On August 9, 2005, about 1230 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N78481, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at a remote landing area, about 62 miles west of Arctic Village, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Galbraith Lake Airport, Galbraith Lake, Alaska, about 1205. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 9, the pilot reported that he prepared a remote landing area to facilitate a hunting trip by cutting brush to form an airstrip. The dirt and rock surface area was oriented east/west, and was about 900 feet long, and about 40 feet wide. He tied wind-indication streamers at both ends of the landing area. He indicated that he made one successful takeoff and landing, and flew to Galbraith Lake and returned with a passenger.

The pilot said that during the accident landing, he landed toward the east, but the landing roll was faster than normal. The pilot stated that as the airplane reached the end of the landing area, he applied heavy braking, and the airplane nosed over. It received structural damage to the left wing, the vertical stabilizer, and the right wing lift struts. Following the accident, the pilot reported that he observed his wind-indicating flagging switch direction 180 degrees.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions, which resulted in an overrun and subsequent nose over during the landing roll. A factor contributing to the accident was a tailwind.