- Date
- September 1, 2010, 21:00 local (Sep 2, 2010, 05:00 UTC)
- Place
- Akhiok, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1594APiper PA-20
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-03
- Case key
- 77185
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 failure to maintain directional control while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The private pilot was on a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He said he had arrived at an abandoned gravel airstrip, and was making a low pass to assess wind and runway conditions for landing. He said while making a pass 12-15 feet above the ground, he decided the conditions were not right for landing due to a crosswind. He reported that as he applied power to terminate the low pass, a gust of wind from the right rolled the airplane to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. The pilot said despite full rudder, aileron, and power, he was unable to overcome the roll. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident. The pilot said he had not realized how the topography around the strip influenced the crosswind, and how fast the weather conditions were changing.
Factual narrative
The private pilot was on a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He said he had arrived at an abandoned gravel airstrip, and was making a low pass to assess wind and runway conditions for landing. He said while making a pass 12-15 feet above the ground, he decided the conditions were not right for landing due to a crosswind. He reported that as he applied power to terminate the low pass, a gust of wind from the right rolled the airplane to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. The pilot said despite full rudder, aileron, and power, he was unable to overcome the roll. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident. The pilot said he had not realized how the topography around the strip influenced the crosswind, and how fast the weather conditions were changing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1594A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-20
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20-833
- Airframe hours
- 3,271
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Fowler Raymond D
- Registered owner
- Fowler Raymond D
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 10, 2010
- Departed
- PADQ · Kodiak, AK
- Destination
- Akhiok, AK
- Airport
- Sitkinak Island
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
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 26, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,206 total · 1,200 in this make and model · 1,171 as pilot in command · 43 in the last 90 days · 37 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 270° at 18 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.70 inHg
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 28, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 612 KB in all.
Other investigations on N1594A · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.