ANC02LA067

The private certificated pilot was searching for a lost hiker along a river drainage in a float-equipped airplane. The pilot said he was maneuvering between 500 to 1,000 feet above the ground and had encountered turbulence that was being produced in the canyons along the river. Just before the accident, the pilot said a strong gust of wind yawed the airplane sideways, and lifted the left wing. The airplane descended toward the ground. The pilot leveled the airplane just before the float assembly collided with alder bushes along the bank of the river. The airplane then did a cartwheel and came to rest facing opposite the initial direction of travel. The airplane received damage to the float assembly, fuselage, and wings.

On July 2, 2002, about 1400 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N1129A, sustained substantial damage when it collided with an embankment after encountering turbulence while maneuvering along a river, about 15 miles northeast of Talkeetna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR,) local-area personal flight, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from Talkeetna about 1215.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 2, the pilot reported that he departed Christensen Lake, Talkeetna, and was searching for a lost hiker along the Sheep River, east of Talkeetna. The pilot said he was flying between 500 to 1,000 feet above the ground, and was returning to Talkeetna. During the flight, the pilot said he encountered moderate turbulence that was being produced in the canyons along the river. Just before the accident, the pilot said a strong gust of wind yawed the airplane sideways, and lifted the left wing. The airplane descended toward the ground. The pilot leveled the airplane just before the float assembly collided with alder bushes along the bank of the river. The airplane then did a cartwheel and came to rest facing opposite the initial direction of travel. The airplane received damage to the float assembly, fuselage, and wings.

At 1353, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Talkeetna was reporting in part: Wind, 200 degrees (true) at 10 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 2,300 feet broken, 2,800 feet overcast; temperature, 61 degrees F; dew point, 48 degrees F; altimeter, 30.03 inHg.