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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

August 8, 2003 · Piper PA-18 · N4320Z

Healy, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 8, 2003
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Healy, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Tail Number
N4320Z
Operator
Max Schwab Master Guide
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC03LA092

The commercial certificated pilot was landing a tundra tire-equipped airplane at a remote site for the purpose of transporting a hunting client to a camp. The landing area, where the pilot had landed in the past, was an area of tundra about 600 feet long and 50 feet wide. The landing area is located in a creek drainage, surrounded by mountains. The pilot indicated that as he was landing toward the south, about 3 feet above touchdown, a 20 to 30 knot gust of wind from the west blew the airplane into several willow trees. The airplane came to rest inverted, and received damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that the wind conditions had previously been light and variable.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain aircraft control after encountering wind gusts during the landing flare/touchdown which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees and subsequent nose over. A factor contributing to the accident was the presence of gusty wind conditions.

Full Narrative

On August 7, 2003, about 2025 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4320Z, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and nosed over following a loss of control while landing at a remote site, about 38 miles east-northeast of Healy, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot, doing business as Max Schwab Master Guide, for the purpose of transporting a hunting client. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated about 2000 from a remote area along Kansas Creek, about 32 miles east-northeast of Healy. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), was notified of the accident by an air taxi operator from Talkeetna, Alaska. The air taxi operator said he received a cell phone call from the pilot, saying he crashed near Dry Creek, east of Healy. The pilot said he was transporting a hunting client to the area, and indicated he would continue the hunting trip and return on August 14. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC, on August 19, the pilot reported that he departed Kansas Creek for a short flight to Dry Creek and planned to land on an area of tundra about 600 feet long and 50 feet wide. The pilot said he had landed at the spot in the past and was landing toward the south. The pilot indicated that about 3 feet above touchdown, a 20 to 30 knot gust of wind from the west blew the airplane into several willow trees. The airplane came to rest inverted, and received damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that the wind conditions had previously been light and variable. The landing area is located in a creek drainage, surrounded by mountains.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:25 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18
Tail NumberN4320Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMax Schwab Master Guide
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 54 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindGusting 25 kt
Visibility35 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data