LAX97LA239

A witness reported that the pilot had returned to the island airstrip to pick up passengers. The aircraft landed and swerved to the left cutting the tops of the Tangantangan trees. The pilot refused to submit a written statement to the Safety Board. In an interview with the FAA, the pilot reported that he was carrying supplies to the island for the workers who were clearing a wider path for the aircraft to land on. On final approach the pilot lined up left of the runway, clipping trees with the left wing. FAA records disclosed that the pilot was denied a medical in 1996.

On July 4, 1997, at approximately 0930 hours local island time, a Cessna 172, N8189B, struck trees while attempting to land on a dirt strip on Aguiguan Island, Marianas Protectorate. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the personal flight that originated from Saipan International Airport, Saipan, Marianas, at 0824.

A witness to the accident reported that the day before the accident, the pilot had taken some passengers to Aguiguan Island. He was returning to pick them up the day the accident occurred. The witness confirmed that the aircraft landed and swerved to the left, cutting the tops of the Tangantangan trees.

The pilot declined to submit a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board.

An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Honolulu, Hawaii, Flight Standards District Office, interviewed the pilot. The pilot reported that he was carrying supplies to Aguiguan Island for the workers, who were clearing a wider path for the aircraft to land on. He stated that he lined up left of the runway and clipped trees with the left wing. The aircraft was pulled into the trees and to the left side of the runway by each succeeding contact with trees. The aircraft veered off the runway into deep brush and came to rest when it hit a hidden log.

FAA medical records disclosed that the pilot's application for a medical in December 1996 was denied. The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he did not have a current medical certificate and had flown over 100 flights without a current medical certificate. The pilot stated that he would continue to fly, and, if his U.S. license was revoked, he would activate his Mexican license, get a Mexican medical, and bring in a Mexican registered aircraft to fly to the Island.