Piper PA-20 N2163A

Summary

On 1 July 1998 at about 00:15 local time, a Piper PA-20 registered N2163A was involved in an accident near Soldotna, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 July 1998 at 00:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Soldotna, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Soldotna (SXQ)

Coordinates

60.3207, -150.7898

Aircraft

Piper PA-20

Registration

N2163A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC98LA087

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadvertent stall of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated private pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings with a friend. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge one day after the accident, the pilot stated that he thought the winds were fairly calm as he approached runway 25. He said that while on final approach the wind increased to an estimated 10 to 15 knots from the west, and a strong downdraft pushed the airplane into trees. In his written statement dated July 27, 1998, the pilot reported that while practicing touch-and-go landings, he stalled the airplane prematurely. The airplane collided with an area of high vegetation, and came to rest about 30 feet from the end of the runway. The airplane's fuselage, and wing lift struts sustained substantial damage. The pilot indicated there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. The Soldotna Airport wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be 237 degrees (magnetic) at 7 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.