Slana Homestead Strip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Slana, Alaska 99586
Thursday, September 16, 2004 18:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private certificated pilot was landing toward the northeast on an airstrip that was 2,000 feet long and 60 feet wide. The wind was from the northwest about 30 knots, with gusts to 45 knots. The pilot indicated that during the landing approach, the wind lifted the left wing of the airplane, and the right wing stalled. The airplane descended into trees short of the airstrip.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to compensate for wind conditions during landing, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a loss of control, and subsequent collision with trees during an uncontrolled descent. Factors contributing to the accident were gusty wind conditions and an inadvertent stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/16/2004
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1800
Event Time Zone --
Event City Slana
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99586
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 624100N
Event Location Longitude 1435200W
Event Location Airport Slana Homestead Strip
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 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport 225
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
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 8000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 315
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 30
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 45
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) 17656
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date Sep 17 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1155
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 8 2005 12:51PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FASA-AL-ANC FSDO 03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N82491
NTSB Number ANC04LA110
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7809180
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Dec 22 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 130
Airframe Hours 1970
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name B & B Aircraft Ventures LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Ogden
Aircraft Owner State UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 84403
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name William Burwell
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Ogden
Operator State UT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 84403
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 --
Departure City Tok
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Slana
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - VFR pattern - final approach
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record --
User who most recently changed record --
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 045
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --