Piper PA-18-150 N83395

Summary

On 9 September 2010 at about 03:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N83395, operated by Jorgensen Spike C, was involved in an accident near Chicken, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 September 2010 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Chicken, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Tok Junction (PFTO)

Coordinates

64.0694, -141.9514

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N83395

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Jorgensen Spike C

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tok Junction → Tok Junction

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC10CA096

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's decision to fly at a low altitude in terrain and weather conditions conducive to turbulence and downdrafts.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported he and the sole passenger were on a personal Title 14 CFR Part 91 flight en route to a hunting site. While maneuvering at a low altitude to assess weather conditions and determine the viability of flying through a pass, he said he encountered turbulence and a strong downdraft. He immediately added engine power to climb, but the downdraft pushed the airplane below the tops of tall Spruce trees. The pilot said he was unable to avoid the trees, and struck trees with the right wing and then the nose of the airplane. The airplane continued to fly, and he was able to return to his home airport, where the right main landing gear collapsed on landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.