AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT

On August 12, 2000, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Taylorcraft F-19 airplane, N3569T, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during landing at an off airport landing site on the Mulchatna River, Alaska, about 70 miles west of Port Alsworth, Alaska, at 59 degrees, 55 minutes north latitude, 156 degrees, 30 minutes west longitude. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, and departed Port Alsworth about 1200 for the accident site. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), during a telephone interview on August 13, that he was landing to the west on the 500 feet long by 60 feet wide gravel bar. He indicated that the airplane touched down short of the normal landing area, the left wheel landed in a hole which he had not seen, and the left wing contacted a brush pile. The airplane nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, right front lift strut, and left wing. He said he had flown to the site one time previously.

AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT

The pilot said he was landing on a 500 feet long by 60 feet wide gravel bar. He indicated that the airplane touched down short of the normal landing area, the left wheel landed in a hole which he had not seen, and the left wing contacted a brush pile. The airplane nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, right front lift strut, and left wing.

AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT

The pilot's failure to touchdown at the proper point on the landing area. Factors associated with this accident were the rough landing area, and the brush along the gravel bar.

END REPORT