# Accident 20000817042599A: Piper PA11, Maclead Harbor, AK, August 17, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 17, 2000, 20:00 local time
- Place: Maclead Harbor, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.7899° N, 145.6108° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7899&lon=-145.6108&mi=10
- Aircraft: N78635, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78635) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-11 (registry code 7101102, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA11
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 856 total, 825 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC00LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA104) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000817042599A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 ANC00LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA104), Aug 17, 2000: Piper PA-11 (N78635), Chenega Bay, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate lookout. Factors involved in this accident were sunglare, and a tall bush next to the airstrip.

## Other reports on N78635 (4)

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

- [Incident 20180408003379I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180408003379I), Apr 8, 2018: Piper PA-11 (N78635), Chenega, AK, Minor damage. The pilot reported that during the landing to the sand beach, the soft sand "caught him by surprise" and the propeller impacted the sand. He reported that…
- [Incident 20130711014749I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130711014749I), Jul 11, 2013: Piper PA-11 (N78635), Montague Island, AK, Minor damage. While attempting takeoff from a sandy beach the aircraft ended up in the water.
- [Accident 20110811022439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110811022439A), Aug 11, 2011: Piper PA-11 (N78635), Montague Island, AK, Minor damage. Aircraft flipped over at the end of the landing rollout. Local fishermen helped the pilot upright the aircraft. A ferry permit was issued to relocate the…
- [Accident 19791216031869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19791216031869A), Dec 16, 1979: Piper PA11 (N78635), Montague Island, AK, Substantial damage. Landed on a beach. Aircraft struck snow drift on rollout. Flipped over.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.