Soldotna Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Soldotna, Alaska 99669
Saturday, March 30, 1996 15:30 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot landed a tundra tire and tail-wheel equipped airplane in a westerly direction and was slowing to begin taxiing to a parking area. At about that time, the airplane encountered a gust of wind from the right and went off the right side of the runway. The airplane received damage to the left wing tip, fuselage, and the left main gear attach point. The pilot estimated the wind was from the north at 16 gusting 22 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. The gusty/crosswind condition was a related factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/30/1996
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City SOLDOTNA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99669
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOLDOTNA
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SXQ
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 107
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1546 Atlantic Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 325
Weather Observation Facility ID ENA
Elevation of weather observation facility 92
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 8
Time Zone of the weather observation AST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 70
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 325
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 30 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:53AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6443M
NTSB Number ANC96LA048
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Stinson
Aircraft Model 108-3
Aircraft Series Identifier 108-3
Aircraft Serial Number 108-4443
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name THOMAS K. GOTCHER
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 4123
Aircraft Owner City SOLDOTNA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99669
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City LAKE CLARK
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SXQ
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 4973
Runway Width 130
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --