What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The pilot wrote in his post accident statement that shortly after takeoff from runway 5L, his flight encountered moderate, sometimes severe turbulence. He immediately elected to return to Port Alsworth to land on rwy 5R. He initiated a level flight right turn adjacent to an area of steep mountainous terrain and large valley drainages. During the turn, the effects of the prevailing northeast wind aloft increased significantly and a series of strong downdrafts and associated windshear were encountered. The pilot further stated that when he realized he could not maintain flight, he initiated a controlled crash, subsequently impacting tree covered terrain.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS POST ACCIDENT STATEMENT THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 5L, HIS FLIGHT ENCOUNTERED MODERATE, SOMETIMES SEVERE TURBULENCE. HE IMMEDIATELY ELECTED TO RETURN TO PORT ALSWORTH TO LAND ON RWY 5R. HE INITIATED A LEVEL FLIGHT RIGHT TURN ADJACENT TO AN AREA OF STEEP MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND LARGE VALLEY DRAINAGES. DURING THE TURN, THE EFFECTS OF THE PREVAILING NORTHEAST WIND ALOFT INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY AND A SERIES OF STRONG DOWNDRAFTS AND ASSOCIATED WINDSHEAR WERE ENCOUNTERED. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT WHEN HE REALIZED HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN FLIGHT, HE INITIATED A CONTROLLED CRASH, SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTING TREE COVERED TERRAIN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N996PK · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.