Piper PA-18 accident near Cantwell, Alaska, April 14, 2003
On April 14, 2003 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N339T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cantwell, Alaska (Summit airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area in deep snow, which resulted in the nose over of the airplane on touchdown. A factor associated with the accident was a snow-covered airstrip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2003 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Cantwell, Alaska · Summit · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N339T · registry record · serial 18-2453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo private pilot was flying through an area of mountainous terrain when he encountered low ceilings, reduced visibility, and light freezing rain. He said that he noticed a light accumulation of rime ice on the leading edge of the airplane's wing, so he elected to land at a remote, unmaintained airstrip, and wait for better weather. The pilot reported that while landing, the main wheels contacted deep snow on the runway, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, both wing lift struts, and rudder assembly. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,082 hours in all; 920 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 939 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 4, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,149.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 9, 2002; 31.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 8:30 pm
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,840 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N339T the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.