Chena Hot Springs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chena Hot Springs, Alaska 99712
Friday, October 1, 2010 17:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he was landing the tailwheel-equipped airplane on a gravel-covered runway in a left crosswind. He stated that during touchdown he used insufficient rudder and the airplane veered to the left. He added power to correct the situation and abort the landing, but the airplane's right wing contacted trees and it pivoted to the right. The airplane continued to track right, exited the gravel runway, and came to rest at the base of an embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing assembly and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during landing, which resulted in a loss of directional control and collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/1/2010
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone --
Event City Chena Hot Springs
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99712
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 650306N
Event Location Longitude 1460205W
Event Location Airport Chena Hot Springs
Event Location Nearest Airport ID AK13
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 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 8000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27704
NTSB Notification Source Pilot
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 8 2010 3:50PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4166M
NTSB Number ANC11CA001
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
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 --
Aircraft Serial Number 12-3065
Certified Max Gross Weight 1935
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
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 28 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 54
Airframe Hours 3083
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name WOOLACE JAMES L
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City NORTH POLE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99705-1225
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WOOLACE JAMES L
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City NORTH POLE
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99705-1225
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 --
Departure City North Pole
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code AK13
Destination City Chena Hot Springs
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 8 2010 3:50PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 08
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --