Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sparrevohn, Alaska 99657
Sunday, August 18, 2002 13:10 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The solo private pilot was landing the airplane to the north on a treeless, mountain ridge top. While on approach for landing, he encountered what he characterized as light and variable winds estimated to be from the north at 10 knots. He said that just after touchdown, he realized that the wind was from the south. The pilot said that he applied full engine power in an attempt to abort the landing, but the airplane did not become airborne. The airplane rolled to the end of the site, and the main wheels struck rough and uneven terrain. The main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane slid down an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of wind conditions while landing, which resulted in a downwind landing and an encounter with rough terrain when the airplane overran the intended landing area. Factors associated with the accident were a tailwind, and rough and uneven terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/18/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1310
Event Time Zone --
Event City Sparrevohn
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99657
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 610500N
Event Location Longitude 1553445W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13445
NTSB Notification Source FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 18 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2003 9:51AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6949B
NTSB Number ANC02LA100
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-4229
Certified Max Gross Weight 1935
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 13 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 45.4
Airframe Hours 2646
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ronald Wild
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Chugiak
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99567
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 3AK5
Departure City Drift River
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SVW
Destination City Sparrevohn
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Apr 16 2003 3:12PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --