Wolf Lake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Palmer, Alaska 99645
Saturday, May 16, 2009 15:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot reported he was landing his homebuilt, tailwheel-equipped airplane on a hard-surfaced dry runway, at the conclusion of a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during the landing roll, a gust of wind pushed the airplaneā€™s tail to the right, and the airplane swerved to the left. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. Witnesses reported variable winds at the time of the accident. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and noted in his report to the NTSB that he should have flown with an instructor before attempting a landing at the accident airport.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, resulting in a nose over and substantial damage to the airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/16/2009
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone --
Event City Palmer
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99645
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 613816N
Event Location Longitude 1491711W
Event Location Airport Wolf Lake Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4AK6
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 572
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 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 10
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
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) 25687
NTSB Notification Source ANC FAA, ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2009 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N530KW
NTSB Number ANC09CA046
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 WINSHIP KENT S
Aircraft Model DOGGER CRAFT
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1001
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Oct 28 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name WINSHIP KENT S
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PORT ALSWORTH
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99653
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WINSHIP KENT S
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City PORT ALSWORTH
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99653
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 MCG
Departure City McGrath
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 4AK6
Destination City Palmer
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2009 4:26PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 3800
Runway Width 70
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --