- Date
- June 25, 1994, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fairbanks, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N9869DPiper PA-18-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 26, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19940625016929A
- Case key
- 2514
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 the wind conditions during the landing. The gusty wind condition was a factor.
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 pilot was attempting to land the airplane in gusty wind conditions. He stated that just prior to touchdown a gust of wind turned the airplane 45 degrees to the left. He added power to attempt a go around but the airplane struck the tree tops and crashed.
Factual narrative
On June 26, 1994 at 1230 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N9868D, registered to and operated by the private certificated pilot, crashed into the trees at an airstrip located 1/2 mile from the Gold King Airstrip, located 50 miles south of Fairbanks, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Fairbanks and the destination was the accident site. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
The airplane received substantial damage and the pilot and passenger were not injured.
According to the pilot, the wind was from the southwest at 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots. He stated that "everything went good to just before touchdown (2 feet above the ground) when a big gust came through and the next thing I knew I was pointing 45 degree to the left." He further stated that he added power attempting a go around but was too close to the trees. The airplane struck the top of a 30 foot high aspen tree and turned to the left and crashed nose first.
The pilot stated there was no mechanical problem that caused the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9869D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7008
- Airframe hours
- 2,575
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Pott, David F.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 1994 · 25 hours before
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
- 46
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,346 total · 700 in this make and model · 1,300 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °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 N9869D · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.