- Date
- October 24, 2007, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Pilot Point, AK
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N1602APiper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Anchorage FSDO
- FAA report
- 20071024824559A
- Case key
- 66974
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during an attempted go-around, which resulted in a loss of control, and an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the accident were gusty, high winds.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The commercial pilot was landing at an off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 other work use flight. The pilot reported that while on a southeasterly approach to the site, he encountered strong gusty winds from 090 degrees at 25 miles per hour, with gusts to 40 miles per hour, and he elected to go-around. During the attempted go-around, a strong gust of wind rolled the airplane abruptly to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. He said that the airplane cartwheeled, and came to rest near the approach end of the site. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The commercial pilot was landing at an off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 other work use flight. The pilot reported that while on a southeasterly approach to the site, he encountered strong gusty winds from 090 degrees at 25 miles per hour, with gusts to 40 miles per hour, and he elected to go-around. During the attempted go-around, a strong gust of wind rolled the airplane abruptly to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. He said that the airplane cartwheeled, and came to rest near the approach end of the site. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1602A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-1240
- Airframe hours
- 3,057.5
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work use · Part 91
- Operator
- Anthony B. Lee
- Registered owner
- Donna Plisga
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 2007
- Departed
- PNP · Pilot Point, AK
- Destination
- Pilot Point, AK
- Airport
- runway 9, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 9,917 total · 7,100 in this make and model · 82 in the last 90 days · 39 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 25 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 45 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1602A · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.