What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Airman was flying to small narrow landing strip near the headwaters of the kustatan river, which is approximately 25 miles northwest of Kenai (ena) VOR on the west side of cook inlet. The airstrip is marginally improved and surrounded by large trees on all sides. Ena weather was reported as clear with wind 090/10 and 29.54 altimeter. Airman said gusty conditions with turbulence prevailed.
Airman was trying to land at airstrip and was "low and slow" in the aircraft, as the runway is short. His GPS showed a ground speed of 38 or 39 mph on final approach.
Just as he was approaching the tree top level, a gust of wind pushed him into the trees. At about 3 feet AGL, while landing, the aircraft right wing hit the trees again and it ground-looped the aircraft into a large spruce tree.
As the FAA filed it
AIRMAN WAS FLYING TO SMALL NARROW LANDING STRIP NEAR THE HEADWATERS OF THE KUSTATAN RIVER, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF KENAI (ENA) VOR ON THE WEST SIDE OF COOK INLET. THE AIRSTRIP IS MARGINALLY IMPROVED AND SURROUNDED BY LARGE TREES ON ALL SIDES. ENA WEATHER WAS REPORTED AS CLEAR WITH WIND 090/10 AND 29.54 ALTIMETER. AIRMAN SAID GUSTY CONDITIONS WITH TURBULENCE PREVAILED.
AIRMAN WAS TRYING TO LAND AT AIRSTRIP AND WAS "LOW AND SLOW" IN THE AIRCRAFT, AS THE RUNWAY IS SHORT. HIS GPS SHOWED A GROUND SPEED OF 38 OR 39 MPH ON FINAL APPROACH.
JUST AS HE WAS APPROACHING THE TREE TOP LEVEL, A GUST OF WIND PUSHED HIM INTO THE TREES. AT ABOUT 3 FEET AGL, WHILE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT RIGHT WING HIT THE TREES AGAIN AND IT GROUND-LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT INTO A LARGE SPRUCE TREE.
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 N8987Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.