Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Homer, Alaska 99603
Friday, July 3, 2009 12:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was landing at an off-airport site surrounded by trees. The pilot stated that while on approach he increased his airspeed due to turbulence. The airplane landed hard and bounced. He added power to abort the landing, but realized that he could not climb over the trees at the end of the landing area and closed the engine throttle. As the airplane touched down again it continued off the end of the site and collided with brush. The pilot said that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane and that he should have used a slower approach airspeed or performed a go-around earlier in the landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar and aileron.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's excessive airspeed during approach to compensate for turbulence, resulting in a hard landing and runway overrun.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/3/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone --
Event City Homer
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99603
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 594500N
Event Location Longitude 1510000W
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 1153 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID PAHO
Elevation of weather observation facility 84
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 --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 100
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 15
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
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) 29503
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 Jan 11 2012 2:14PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4299Z
NTSB Number ANC09CA111
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-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-8558
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 13 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4406
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name KAUFFMAN LOREN C
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City HOMER
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99603
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name KAUFFMAN LOREN C
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City HOMER
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99603
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 PAHO
Departure City Homer
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1140
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Homer
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 11 2012 2:14PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --