- Date
- September 13, 1997, 17:43 local (Sep 14, 1997, 01:43 UTC)
- Place
- Gulkana, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N4116DPiper PA-11
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19970913029379A
- Case key
- 3076
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, and his failure to maintain directional control after touchdown. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty wind conditions.
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 airplane was landing with a right crosswind of 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot said that on final approach to land, the airplane encountered a downdraft and he did not react quickly enough. The left wingtip contacted a tree prior to touchdown. The pilot stated he overcontrolled on touchdown and the airplane ground looped.
Factual narrative
On September 13, 1997, at 1743 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-11 airplane, N4116D, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Gulkana airport, Gulkana, Alaska. The airplane was equipped with 26 inch tundra tires. The solo commercial certificated pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, as a local flight to conduct touch and go landings. Dusk, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed.
The pilot stated to the NTSB investigator that he was landing on runway 32, and winds were from 360 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. He related that while on final approach to land, the airplane encountered a down draft, and that he did not react quickly enough. Prior to touchdown, the left wingtip struck a tree. He said that upon touchdown, he over-controlled and the airplane ground looped.
The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that he failed to maintain directional control during landing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4116D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-11
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 11-1580
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Gregory J. Boyd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- GKN
- Airport
- GKN · Gulkana, runway 32, 1,700 × 150 ft, gravel
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
- 45
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,174 total · 950 in this make and model · 2,120 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.