Healy River Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Healy, Alaska 99743
Sunday, June 1, 1997 18:25 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was departing in a tailwheel equipped airplane from a runway that was located along and above a small creek. A right crosswind of about 8 knots was prevailing at the airport. During the takeoff roll, the right wing began to rise. Full right aileron control did not prevent the right wing from continuing to rise. The airplane departed off the left edge of the runway and became airborne. It then stalled and descended about 75 ft to the ground in a near nose level attitude. The airplane received damage to the left wing, fuselage, and landing gear.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, and failure to maintain directional control of the airplane and runway alignment. Factors relating to the accident were: the crosswind, and the proximity of a creek (ravine) to the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/1/1997
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1825
Event Time Zone --
Event City HEALY
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99743
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HEALY RIVER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HRR
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 1294
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1825 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID HVI
Elevation of weather observation facility 1294
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 4000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 244
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 928
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 1 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1943
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3602A
NTSB Number ANC97LA081
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 Piper
Aircraft Model PA-22
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22
Aircraft Serial Number 22-1862
Certified Max Gross Weight 1850
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRENT A. HOWELL
Aircraft Owner Street Address 351 E. 3RD AVE.
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99501
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code HVI
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1825
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MRI
Destination City ANCHORAGE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 15
Runway Length 2920
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --