- Date
- August 29, 2024, 19:00 local (Aug 30, 2024, 03:00 UTC)
- Place
- Aleknagik, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4NWPiper PA22
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20240829013029A
- Case key
- 195025
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 clearance from terrain while maneuvering at 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
According to the pilot, while conducting a low altitude pass over an off-airport site with a 5 to 7 mph tailwind in his tailwheel-equipped airplane, the landing gear contacted a patch of alder brush. The airplane subsequently came to rest in an area of tall brush, both wings, lift struts and empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4NW
- Reported as
- Piper PA22 (160)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-7520
- Built
- 1960
- Airframe hours
- 4,913
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 25, 2024
- Departed
- 5A8 · Aleknagik, AK
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Equipment
- None
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
- 28
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 27, 2022
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 305 total · 175 in this make and model · 232 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 200 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.80 inHg
- Observed at
- PADL, 38 nm away
- METAR
- PADL 291404Z AUTO 00000KT 3/4SM BR OVC002 09/09 A2980 RMK AO2
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.