# Accident 19970913029379A: Piper PA11, Gulkana, AK, September 13, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 13, 1997, 17:43 local time
- Place: Gulkana, AK
- Airport: Gulkana
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 55.9193° N, 159.4892° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9193&lon=-159.4892&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4116D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4116D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-11 (registry code 7101102, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA11
- Reported engine: CONT O200*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,174 total, 950 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA160) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970913029379A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

CRASHED ON LANDING. OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES UNKNOWN. (.4) THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDING WITH A RIGHT CROSSWIND OF 10 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS. THE PILOT SAID THAT ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT AND HE DID NOT REACT QUICKLY ENOUGH. THE LEFT WINGTIP CONTACTED A TREE PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE PILOT STATED HE OVERCONTROLLED ON TOUCHDOWN AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA160), Sep 14, 1997: Piper PA-11 (N4116D), Gulkana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his failure to maintain directional control after touchdown. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind conditions.

## Other reports on N4116D (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19951128041089I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951128041089I), Nov 28, 1995: Piper PA11 (N4116D), Cold Bay, AK, Minor damage. Narrative: the owner and pilot in command, a hunting and fishing guide, had landed on a beach at the mouth of a river. Later, as he was taxiing to relocate to…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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