What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
First time operating from this airport located on a ridge top, in mountainous area at 2717'MLS.
Airport slopes downward from west to east and experiences severe turbulence with any wind condition as described in Alaska supplement.
Pilot received complete weather briefing, filed a flight plan, and checked out airport information prior to departure from fairbanks.
Pilot flew over field before landing to check conditions.
Aircraft was operated light, approximately 450 pounds below max gross weight.
Temperature at time of accident was between 20-22 celcius. Altimeter setting 30.00
Resulting density altitude between 3800'-4030'
Take-off distance computed for sea level, at 15 degrees celcius, zero wind using stol kit data resulted in 600' take-off roll.
After initial landing pilot surveyed entire length of runway before making one successful take-off and returned for landing. Winds described as calm.
During second take-off attempt after becoming airborne wind sheared to tailwind and aircraft began to settle. Pilot could not get aircraft to climb and felt it "pushed" onto the ground.
Aircraft came to rest off the left side of runway 07 in patch of low trees.
Pilot noted the winds had picked up and were gusty when he departed the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
FIRST TIME OPERATING FROM THIS AIRPORT LOCATED ON A RIDGE TOP, IN MOUNTAINOUS AREA AT 2717'MLS.
AIRPORT SLOPES DOWNWARD FROM WEST TO EAST AND EXPERIENCES SEVERE TURBULENCE WITH ANY WIND CONDITION AS DESCRIBED IN ALASKA SUPPLEMENT.
PILOT RECEIVED COMPLETE WEATHER BRIEFING, FILED A FLIGHT PLAN, AND CHECKED OUT AIRPORT INFORMATION PRIOR TO DEPARTURE FROM FAIRBANKS.
PILOT FLEW OVER FIELD BEFORE LANDING TO CHECK CONDITIONS.
AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED LIGHT, APPROXIMATELY 450 POUNDS BELOW MAX GROSS WEIGHT.
TEMPERATURE AT TIME OF ACCIDENT WAS BETWEEN 20-22 CELCIUS. ALTIMETER SETTING 30.00
RESULTING DENSITY ALTITUDE BETWEEN 3800'-4030'
TAKE-OFF DISTANCE COMPUTED FOR SEA LEVEL, AT 15 DEGREES CELCIUS, ZERO WIND USING STOL KIT DATA RESULTED IN 600' TAKE-OFF ROLL.
AFTER INITIAL LANDING PILOT SURVEYED ENTIRE LENGTH OF RUNWAY BEFORE MAKING ONE SUCCESSFUL TAKE-OFF AND RETURNED FOR LANDING. WINDS DESCRIBED AS CALM.
DURING SECOND TAKE-OFF ATTEMPT AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE WIND SHEARED TO TAILWIND AND AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE. PILOT COULD NOT GET AIRCRAFT TO CLIMB AND FELT IT "PUSHED" ONTO THE GROUND.
AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY 07 IN PATCH OF LOW TREES.
PILOT NOTED THE WINDS HAD PICKED UP AND WERE GUSTY WHEN HE DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.