ANC01LA065

The certificated private pilot reported to the NTSB that while on approach to landing to the west, he encountered winds estimated to be from 220 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots, which required a left crosswind correction. He said as the airplane continued on the approach, he inadvertently allowed the airplane to fly further down the runway than anticipated, so he applied full engine power to go-around. He said that during the go-around attempt, a very strong gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right, and the airplane's airspeed rapidly diminished. The nose of the airplane continued to the right, and the right wing stalled. The right wing and right main wheel struck the ground, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and right wing.

On June 3, 2001, about 1830 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Cessna 170B airplane, N4659C, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Sandy River Lodge Airstrip, about 55 miles northeast of Sand Point, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was in effect. The flight departed from the Wolf Lake Airstrip in Palmer, Alaska, about 1200, en route to King Salmon, Alaska, to refuel, then continued to the Sandy River Lodge Airstrip.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on June 7, the pilot reported that during the flight from King Salmon, en route to the Sandy River Lodge Airstrip, strong headwinds and turbulence were encountered. He added that after arriving overhead of the accident airstrip, he noted that the winds were out of the southwest, favoring a landing to the west. While on approach to the west, he encountered winds estimated to be from 220 degrees at 20 knots with gusts to 25 knots, which required a left crosswind correction. He said as the airplane continued on the approach, he inadvertently allowed the airplane to fly further down the runway than anticipated, so he applied full engine power to go-around. He said that during the go-around attempt, a very strong gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right, and the airplane's airspeed rapidly diminished. The nose of the airplane continued to the right, and the right wing stalled. The right wing and right main wheel struck the ground, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and right wing.

The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.