Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Skwentna, Alaska 99667
Tuesady, August 31, 1999 14:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial certificated pilot/hunting guide was landing at a remote airstrip located on a mountain ridge with an assistant guide. The purpose of the flight was to establish a camp for his hunting clients. The landing strip is oriented north/south at 3,500 feet msl, and is 850 feet long, and 30 feet wide. The pilot had landed on the ridge numerous times in the past. The pilot said he made several low passes over the area to assess the landing area and wind conditions. During the low passes over the ridge, he noted a quartering head wind from the right, of 10 miles per hour. He said he landed on the ridge, but just after touchdown, encountered a wind gust that pushed the airplane to the left. He added engine power to abort the landing. The tailwheel came off the ground, and he turned the airplane downhill to the left to gain airspeed. The right wing, and the main tires struck the ground on the downhill side of the ridge. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, and the right wing spar.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors in the accident were a crosswind, and wind gusts.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/1999
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1430
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 3500
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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 1000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 45
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 1504
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 31 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1750
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Aug 14 2001 3:35PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3824M
NTSB Number ANC99LA131
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12
Aircraft Serial Number 12-2744
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 31 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 100
Airframe Hours 4100
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JEFFORY K. PRALLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 874535
Aircraft Owner City WASILLA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99687
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 H1GC
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City HARTMAN RIVER
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1300
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 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 850
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --