20000829042339A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18-125 · Port Heiden, AK · August 29, 2000

Date: August 29, 2000 · 18:00 local
Place: Port Heiden, AK
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N125FG
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC00TA109
Reported as: Piper PA18125
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 3,500 total190 in this make and model200 in the last 90 days

N125FGRegistered now · Piper PA-18-125S/N 18-1046 · Built 1951 Airframe modelPiper PA-18-125 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

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) As per standard fish and game procedures, pilot flew up to the head of the canyon, turned and proceeded to descend and fly downstream in order to count fish. The pilot decided to abort the mission due to strong gusty winds. A down draft forced the aircraft down into alder trees causing substantial damage and injuries.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AS PER STANDARD FISH AND GAME PROCEDURES, PILOT FLEW UP TO THE HEAD OF THE CANYON, TURNED AND PROCEEDED TO DESCEND AND FLY DOWNSTREAM IN ORDER TO COUNT FISH. THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE MISSION DUE TO STRONG GUSTY WINDS. A DOWN DRAFT FORCED THE AIRCRAFT DOWN INTO ALDER TREES CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND INJURIES.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC00TA109Accident · Serious injuriesFinal reportPort Heiden, AKThe pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and in-flight planning/decisions. Factors in the accident were turbulence, and a downdraft.Aug 29, 2000 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N125FG · 2

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

Incident 20000513034029IRoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Kodiak, AK(-23)Aircraft landed at Kodiak, cleared for touch and go. Aircraft rolled approx 200 yds and right wheel strut folded under. Pilot stated crosswind was also a factor.May 13, 2000 · Minor damage Accident 19950602037879ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Sand Point, AKLanded tundra tire equipped PA180N paved runway. Veered sharply collapsing left gear. Anticastor malajusted.Jun 2, 1995 · Reported as Piper PA18150 · Substantial damage