ANC07LA057

The private certificated pilot was departing from a gravel surface runway on a personal flight with two passengers. The runway was 1,690 feet long and 45 feet wide. The airplane lifted off after traveling about 3/4 of the total available runway distance, climbed to between 10 and 15 feet, and then began drifting to the right and descending. The airplane bounced on the main landing gear tires, and was headed about 30 degrees to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot aborted the takeoff, and the right main landing gear collapsed when the airplane touched down again. The pilot reported that he encountered a downdraft, and the airplane failed to maintain flying speed. He said that rain showers were in the area, about 5 miles from the airport, and there may have been a wind shear near the tops of the trees that adjoin the runway. The closest weather reporting facility is about 36 miles east of the accident site. At 1553, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) was reporting the wind as variable at 5 knots.

On June 26, 2007, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 182RG airplane, N6110T, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during an aborted takeoff from Tok, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed for the intended flight to Whitehorse, Canada.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 27, an Alaska State Trooper reported that he responded to the accident scene and interviewed the pilot. The trooper, who holds a pilot certificate, indicated that the airplane was departing runway 31, and climbed to about 15 feet. The airplane then descended and collided with the ground, which collapsed the right main landing gear. The right wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest near the departure end of the runway.

In a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on June 29, the pilot reported that he positioned the airplane in the overrun area of runway 31, and lifted off after traveling about 3/4 of the total available runway distance. The airplane climbed to between 10 and 15 feet, and began drifting to the right and descending. The airplane bounced on the main landing gear tires, and was headed about 30 degrees to the right of the runway centerline. He said he aborted the takeoff, and the right main landing gear collapsed when the airplane touched down again. The pilot indicated that rain showers were in the area, about 5 miles from the airport, and there may have been a wind shear near the tops of the trees that adjoin the runway.

In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, he reported that he encountered a downdraft, and the airplane failed to maintain flying speed. He also indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

The Tok airport consists of a single, gravel surface runway on a 310/130 magnetic orientation. Runway 13 is 1,690 feet long and 45 feet wide.

The closest weather reporting facility is Northway, Alaska, which is located about 36 miles east of the accident site. At 1553, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) was reporting, in part: Wind, variable at 5 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 7,000 feet scattered, 18,000 feet scattered; temperature, 70 degrees F; dew point, 36 degrees F; altimeter, 30.08 inHg.