From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.
What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On August 16, 2000, about 2030 Alaska daylight time, N78635, a Piper PA-11, sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage during a landing at macleod Harbor airstrip on montague island, Alaska. Mr. Joseph g. hepler was the pilot-in-command. Mr. Hepler stated he had established a long, flat, final approach to landing at airstrip. He said that there was a strong crosswind from the right, and the sun was low and glaring off the water. He indicated that about 10 feet above the landing area the propeller contacted a tall brush. The airplane spun around, and came to rest on the airstrip.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON AUGUST 16, 2000, ABOUT 2030 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, N78635, A PIPER PA-11, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING AND EMPENNAGE DURING A LANDING AT MACLEOD HARBOR AIRSTRIP ON MONTAGUE ISLAND, ALASKA. MR. JOSEPH G. HEPLER WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. MR. HEPLER STATED HE HAD ESTABLISHED A LONG, FLAT, FINAL APPROACH TO LANDING AT AIRSTRIP. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A STRONG CROSSWIND FROM THE RIGHT, AND THE SUN WAS LOW AND GLARING OFF THE WATER. HE INDICATED THAT ABOUT 10 FEET ABOVE THE LANDING AREA THE PROPELLER CONTACTED A TALL BRUSH. THE AIRPLANE SPUN AROUND, AND CAME TO REST ON THE AIRSTRIP.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.