ANC93LA082

The pilot said that he was performing a soft field landing during gusty wind conditions and that while attempting to compensate for the wind he was too abrupt with the rudder controls and the airplane began skidding sideways to the right. The left landing gear caught on the ground and the airplane rolled over onto its back.

On June 6, 1993, at 1220 Alaska daylight time (ADT), a wheel equipped Piper PA22-108 airplane, N5104Z, collided with terrain shortly after landing on runway 09 at the Skwentna Airport. The private pilot and passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was being operated as a pleasure flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated at the Merrill Field Airport in Anchorage, Alaska, at approximately 1115 ADT. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was not in effect.

The pilot stated that he was in the process of performing a soft field landing and that as the plane touched down he encountered a gust of wind from the west/northwest which required him to depress the left rudder pedal)to keep the airplane aligned with the runway centerline. The pilot said that he overcompensated for the wind and that he depressed the right rudder pedal and added a "little power". He further reported that as a result of being "too abrupt" in his use of the right rudder pedal, the airplane started to slide sideways in the gravel. The left landing gear tire caught and the left wing struck the ground followed by the airplane rolling over onto its back.