What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 05/14/2010, at 1349 AKDT, a Piper PA-18 aircraft, N1123, was involved in a accident at susitna landing, mile 82.5 of the parks highway. Investigation indicated the aircraft departed rustic wilderness airstrip (02AK) shortly before the accident. A witness at susitna landing stated he observed the aircraft approaching from downriver on a heading of 010, at approximately 50 feet. He observed the aircraft fly over the campground and the left wing collided with a 65 foot tall spruce tree six feet from the top, causing severe structural damage to the wing. The aircraft momentum carried it an additional 100 yards, where it wrapped around several large birch trees at ground level, destroying the aircraft. Inspection of the aircraft on site revealed no known mechanical discrepancies, and the witness stated the engine sounded normal prior to the accident. It was noted that there was one empty beer can in the aircraft, and the pilot had several full cans in his jacket pockets.
As the FAA filed it
ON 05/14/2010, AT 1349 AKDT, A PIPER PA-18 AIRCRAFT, N1123, WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AT SUSITNA LANDING, MILE 82.5 OF THE PARKS HIGHWAY. INVESTIGATION INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED RUSTIC WILDERNESS AIRSTRIP (02AK) SHORTLY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. A WITNESS AT SUSITNA LANDING STATED HE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHING FROM DOWNRIVER ON A HEADING OF 010, AT APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET. HE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT FLY OVER THE CAMPGROUND AND THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH A 65 FOOT TALL SPRUCE TREE SIX FEET FROM THE TOP, CAUSING SEVERE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE WING. THE AIRCRAFT MOMENTUM CARRIED IT AN ADDITIONAL 100 YARDS, WHERE IT WRAPPED AROUND SEVERAL LARGE BIRCH TREES AT GROUND LEVEL, DESTROYING THE AIRCRAFT. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT ON SITE REVEALED NO KNOWN MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES, AND THE WITNESS STATED THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS ONE EMPTY BEER CAN IN THE AIRCRAFT, AND THE PILOT HAD SEVERAL FULL CANS IN HIS JACKET POCKETS.
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 N1123 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.