ANC99LA156

The private certificated pilot was departing a remote ridge top at the end of a hunting trip. The wind was from the east about 5 knots. He loaded the airplane with moose and caribou meat, and departed the ridge top toward the east. During the takeoff roll, an approximate 20 knot gust of wind struck the airplane from the right. The airplane was pushed to the left, and the left wing struck some bushes. The airplane pivoted to the left and descended downhill. After the airplane came to rest, it caught fire, and was destroyed.

On September 20, 1999, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Stinson 108 airplane, N97713, was destroyed by impact and a postimpact fire, when the airplane crashed on takeoff from a remote area, about 10 miles south of the Sparrevohn Long Range Radar Station (LRRS), Sparrevohn, Alaska, about latitude 60 degrees, 55 minutes north, and longitude 155 degrees, 35 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight to Iliamna, Alaska, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on October 13, 1999, at 0905, the pilot reported he and two friends landed on a remote ridge top to go hunting. At the completion of the trip, he loaded the airplane with moose and caribou meat, and planned to fly to Iliamna. The pilot said he departed the ridge top toward the east. During the takeoff roll, an approximate 20 knot gust of wind struck the airplane from the right. The airplane was pushed to the left, and the left wing struck some bushes. The airplane pivoted to the left and descended downhill. After the airplane came to rest, it caught fire, and was destroyed. The pilot and his two friends hiked out of the area, and arrived at the Sparrevohn LRRS two days later.