Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Skwentna, Alaska 99667
Wednesday, August 11, 1999 12:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private certificated pilot was landing at a remote airstrip to inspect some personal property at the accident location. The airstrip, about 1,150 feet long, and 150 feet wide, had been in use several years ago, but over time had become slightly overgrown with bushes. The pilot said he made several passes over the strip to check for hazards and assess its suitability for use. The pilot decided to land toward the west, and touched down with the tail wheel first. The main landing gear tires then contacted several bushes that were taller than the pilot anticipated. The airplane then nosed over, and received damage to the vertical stabilizer, the rudder, and wing ribs on both wings.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor was high vegetation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/11/1999
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone --
Event City SKWENTNA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99667
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 302
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1497
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 16 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1534
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 9:43AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N221BC
NTSB Number ANC99LA117
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-18
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18
Aircraft Serial Number 18-5570
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Aug 2 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 3450
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WAYNE E. FIORINA
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 11
Aircraft Owner City SKWENTNA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99667
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 PABV
Departure City CHUGIAK
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1050
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 1150
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --