FAREWELL, AK, USA
N1606A
Piper PA-18
The pilot was maneuvering the airplane at low altitude in gusty wind conditions. He reported that during a turn, a wind gust rolled the airplane to a 75-degree bank angle, the airplane descended, and the right wing struck a tree.
On August 5, 1997, about 1230 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 airplane, N1606A, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees at position 62-10.4 north latitude, 154-01.05 west longitude, about 19 miles southeast of Farewell, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and single passenger were uninjured. The airplane was operated by Yenlo Air of Willow, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan was filed with a hunting guide. According to the Alaska State Trooper who interviewed the pilot, and the pilot/operator report, the pilot made a low pass at 300 feet over a sand bar. During the low pass, and while in a turn, a gust of wind rolled the airplane to 75 degrees angle of bank. The airplane descended while in the turn, and the right wing subsequently struck a tree. The airplane came to rest in the trees, with the wings vertical.
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate control of the airplane resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush at low altitude. Factors to the accident were the pilot's low altitude flight maneuver and the gusty winds.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
