Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anchorage, Alaska 99502
Saturday, January 29, 2011 15:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that he was attempting a touch-and-go landing in a ski-equipped airplane on a snow-covered mountaintop site, which was surrounded by higher mountains. Before beginning his approach to the site, he determined the wind conditions, and then planned an easterly approach into a 10-mph headwind. After landing, he turned the airplane to the north in preparation for takeoff and, as it passed out of a wind-protected area, a strong southerly wind lifted the airplane's tail. The pilot was unable to control the airplane in the strong wind and it nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing/takeoff area with an unfavorable wind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/29/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone --
Event City Anchorage
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99502
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 613100N
Event Location Longitude 1504400W
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 --
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 6000
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) -6
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 46
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 57
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) 28188
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 Mar 29 2011 4:12PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9015U
NTSB Number ANC11CA011
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 MILLER GREGORY SCOTT
Aircraft Model GOT ROCKS
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 13 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 386
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name John Henry Swan
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Anchorage
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99507
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John Henry Swan
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
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 99507
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 Anchorage
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1515
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Anchorage
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 29 2011 4:13PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --