ANC99LA046

The private pilot departed from the Birchwood Airport, Birchwood, Alaska, about 0930, en route to Port Alsworth via the Lake Clark pass. He said that prior to departing for the return trip, he requested a weather report from two pilots who had just traveled through Lake Clark pass. Both pilots reported that the weather in the pass was good, and that the pass appeared to be open. As the pilot proceeded through the pass and approached the pass exit, he encountered light snow showers, and strong winds. He said that the wind, in excess of 45 knots, made control of the airplane difficult, and he elected to make a precautionary landing in a clearing. He said that as the airplane descended to about 600 feet above the landing area, with full left rudder and full left aileron applied, he was unable to turn the airplane to the left. He then applied right aileron while still applying full left rudder. The next thing the pilot recalls is regaining consciousness after the accident, while laying outside the airplane. The pilot stated: 'There was nothing wrong with the airplane, it was just pilot error.' The airplane collided with snow covered terrain and sustained substantial damage to the wings, and fuselage.

On April 13, 1999, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a ski equipped Stinson 108-2 airplane, N221C, sustained substantial damage during a precautionary landing at a remote landing site, about 35 miles west of Kenai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Port Alsworth airstrip, about 1600.

During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on April 19, the pilot reported that he had departed from the Birchwood Airport, Birchwood, Alaska, about 0930, en route to Port Alsworth via the Lake Clark pass. He said that prior to departing for the return trip, he requested a weather report from two pilots who had just traveled through Lake Clark pass. Both pilots reported that the weather in the pass was good, and that the pass appeared to be open. As the pilot proceeded through the pass and approached the pass exit, he encountered light snow showers, and strong winds. He said that the wind, in excess of 45 knots, made control of the airplane difficult, and he elected to make a precautionary landing in a clearing. He said that as the airplane descended to about 600 feet above the landing area, with full left rudder and full left aileron applied, he was unable to turn the airplane to the left. He then applied right aileron while still applying full left rudder. The next thing the pilot recalls is regaining consciousness after the accident, while laying outside the airplane. The pilot stated: "There was nothing wrong with the airplane, it was just pilot error."

The airplane collided with snow covered terrain and sustained substantial damage to the wings, and fuselage.