ANC96LA116

The pilot reported he was attempting to land at a remote, off airport site to go fishing. He made two low passes to assess the landing site. On the third pass, he attempted to land, but decided he would touch down too far down the landing site. He attempted to go around, and reduced the flap setting. The airplane began to sink, and the pilot reapplied full flaps. The airplane was unable to climb away from the rising terrain and crashed.

On August 4, 1996, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N8995D, sustained substantial damage during an off airport landing about six miles north of Tyonek, Alaska. The private pilot and one passenger aboard reported minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions. A VFR flight plan was in effect. The flight last departed Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1400.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 5, the pilot stated he was attempting to land at an off airport site to go fishing. He said he made two low approaches to look at the proposed landing site, and then made another approach to land. On the third approach he decided he was a little too far beyond his intended touchdown point, and decided to go around. He said he brought up a notch of flaps to begin to go around, but the airplane immediately begin to descend. He returned to a full flap setting, but the terrain climbed faster than his airplane did. The airplane struck the terrain, and bounced. The airplane bounced one more time, and yawed to the right. The left main landing gear collapsed when the airplane struck the ground the second time. The pilot reported damage to the landing gear, fuselage, and left wing.