# NTSB ANC00LA104: Piper PA-11, N78635, Chenega Bay, AK, August 17, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 2000, 20:30 local (Aug 17, 2000, 04:30 UTC) - Place: Chenega Bay, AK - Coordinates: 60.789932, -145.610809 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7899&lon=-145.6108&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50983 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA104 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50983/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA104 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate lookout. Factors involved in this accident were sunglare, and a tall bush next to the airstrip. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot stated he had established a long, flat, final approach to land on the 1000 feet long by 40 feet wide airstrip. He stated there was a strong crosswind from the right, and the sun was low and glaring off the water. He indicated that 10 feet above the airstrip the propeller contacted a single tall bush which he had not seen. He said the airplane stopped flying, spun around, and came to rest on the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, and the empennage. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 2000, about 2030 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-11 airplane, N78635, sustained substantial damage when it contacted brush during landing at the MacLeod Harbor Airstrip, Montague Island, Alaska, at 59 degrees, 52.3 minutes north latitude, 147 degrees, 45.11 minutes west longitude. The solo private pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR flight plan was filed. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 17, the pilot stated he had established a long, flat, final approach to land on the 1000 feet long by 40 feet wide airstrip. He stated there was a strong crosswind from the right, and the sun was low and glaring off the water. He indicated that 10 feet above the airstrip the propeller contacted a single tall bush which he had not seen. He said the airplane stopped flying, spun around, and came to rest on the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, and the empennage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78635](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78635), registered now, S/N 11-1396, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-11 - Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11-1396 - Airframe hours: 8064 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-17 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joseph G. Hepler - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2000, 73 hours before - Departed: Z41, ANCHORAGE, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: Macleod Harbor Airstrip, runway 27, 1,000 × 40 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 855 total, 825 in this make and model, 825 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000817042599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000817042599A), Aug 17, 2000: Piper PA11, Maclead Harbor, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 16, 2000, about 2030 Alaska daylight time, N78635, a Piper PA-11, sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage during a landing… ## Other investigations on N78635 (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC11CA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA078), Aug 11, 2011: Piper PA-11 (N78635), Chenga Bay, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to land on an unsuitable landing surface which resulted in a nose over. - [NTSB ANC80DAG16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG16), Dec 16, 1979: Piper PA-11 (N78635), Montague Is, AK, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.