ANC04LA110

The private certificated pilot was landing toward the northeast on an airstrip that was 2,000 feet long and 60 feet wide. The wind was from the northwest about 30 knots, with gusts to 45 knots. The pilot indicated that during the landing approach, the wind lifted the left wing of the airplane, and the right wing stalled. The airplane descended into trees short of the airstrip.

On September 16, 2004, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N82491, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during the landing approach to a private airstrip, about 4 miles east of Slana, Alaska. The airplane, registered to B and B Aircraft Ventures LLC, Ogden, Utah, was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from the Little Tok River, Tok, Alaska, about 1630. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 17, the pilot reported that he was returning to the Slana Homestead Strip from a hunting trip. The pilot indicated that the dirt surface airstrip is about 2,000 feet long and 60 wide, and is oriented northeast/southwest. He said he was landing toward the northeast, and the wind was from the northwest about 30 knots, with gusts to 45 knots. He indicated that due to the crosswind, the left wing of the airplane was lifted, and the right wing of the airplane stalled. The airplane descended into trees short of the airstrip. The pilot said the airplane received extensive damage to the wings, fuselage, and engine.