| Crash location | 62.133333°N, 159.300000°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect. |
| Nearest city | Holy Cross, AK
62.199444°N, 159.771389°W 15.9 miles away |
| Tail number | N82735 |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 16 May 2002 |
| Aircraft type | Piper PA-18 |
| Additional details: | None |
On May 16, 2002, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N82735, sustained substantial damage during a landing on a beach at Reindeer Lake, about 14 miles east of Holy Cross, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country public use flight, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the State of Alaska, Department of Public Service, Anchorage, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, a Fish and Wildlife Protection Officer, and the passenger, an Alaska State Trooper, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Aniak airport, Aniak, Alaska, about 1430.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 16, the supervisor for the State of Alaska's aircraft section reported that the pilot and passenger were en route to Reindeer Lake to conduct a criminal investigation. The pilot was landing on the beach area of the lake, adjacent to a remote lodge. During the landing roll, the right wingtip contacted willow bushes, pivoting the airplane to the right. The airplane received damage to the propeller, the tailwheel assembly, the rudder post, and a fuselage longeron. The pilot indicated that the wind was from 030 degrees at 8 to 10 knots.
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was the presence of high vegetation (willows) along the right side of the landing area.