What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On March 31, 2001, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-20, N4606Z registered to and piloted by jeffery r. clements was involved in an aircraft accident at an off airport site, approximantly 23 miles southeast of Palmer, Alaska. According to the certificated private pilot, just before takeoff from a snow covered 800 foot long strip, the right main wheel hit a rut and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airman stated that the aircraft veered to the right and collided with a stand of willow trees. The flight was operated under the provisions of FAR part 91. The pilot and passenger were uninjured, however the aircraft received substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MARCH 31, 2001, A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED PIPER PA-20, N4606Z REGISTERED TO AND PILOTED BY JEFFERY R. CLEMENTS WAS INVOLVED IN AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT AT AN OFF AIRPORT SITE, APPROXIMANTLY 23 MILES SOUTHEAST OF PALMER, ALASKA. ACCORDING TO THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT, JUST BEFORE TAKEOFF FROM A SNOW COVERED 800 FOOT LONG STRIP, THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL HIT A RUT AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRMAN STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH A STAND OF WILLOW TREES. THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF FAR PART 91. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED, HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.