Bold Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chugiak, Alaska 99567
Saturday, May 22, 2010 11:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot was landing at a remote airstrip surrounded by trees at the completion of a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that during the approach, just before touchdown, he allowed the airplane to drift left of his intended approach path, and the left main landing gear wheel struck a tree, which yawed the airplane to the left. During touchdown, the right main landing gear collapsed, followed by the collapse of the left main landing gear. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage and empennage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path while landing, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a tree, and the collapse of the main landing gear during touchdown.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/22/2010
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1130
Event Time Zone --
Event City Chugiak
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99567
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 612012N
Event Location Longitude 1485912W
Event Location Airport Bold Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID A13
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1253 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID PAAQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 242
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27279
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 Aug 6 2010 2:30PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2581M
NTSB Number ANC10CA042
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-12
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 12-1049
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 May 20 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2407
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name PAGE SPENCER
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99516-3228
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name RICHARD N. SUTLIFF
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99516-3228
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 MRI
Departure City Anchorage
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1110
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code A13
Destination City Chugiak
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 6 2010 2:30PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 1000
Runway Width 15
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --