CHICKALOON, AK, USA
N2389M
PIPER PA-12
THE PILOT/ASSISTANT HUNT GUIDE AND A PASSENGER/HUNTER WERE COMPLETING A BUSINESS CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO TRANSPORT THE PASSENGER TO A GAME HUNTING SITE FOR A GUIDE/OUTFITTER COMPANY. THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON A 600-FOOT-LONG REMOTE TUNDRA AIRSTRIP IN A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED AIRPLANE AT 4,500 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL IN AN AREA OF ROUGH, RISING TERRAIN. THE PILOT REPORTED A SLIGHT TAIL WIND FROM THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO DIVERGE TO THE LEFT TOWARD AN ORANGE CONE AT THE LEFT EDGE OF THE STRIP. THE PILOT ADDED POWER FOR A GO-AROUND; HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB AND COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN.
On August 20, 1994, at 1000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire wheel equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N2389M, owned and operated by the pilot-in-command, collided with terrain during an attempted go-around from a remote tundra strip on the Chickaloon River. The pilot/assistant hunt guide for Chickaloon Guide and Outfitters, Palmer, Alaska, and his passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purpose of transporting the passenger/hunter to a game site, last departed another remote tundra strip at 0940 and the intended destination was the accident location. The pilot reported that visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the mishap and no flight plan was in effect. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview on August 21, 1994, that shortly after touching down on a rough tundra strip, the airplane diverged toward an orange cone which was located along the left edge of the strip about 200 feet beyond the approach end. The pilot estimated the landing strip to be 600 feet in length at an elevation of 4,500 feet mean sea level in an area of rising terrain. He also indicated that during the final approach phase of the landing, he encountered a light tail wind from the right rear quarter of the airplane. The pilot attempted to go-around but the airplane would not climb and it collided with the terrain. The pilot said that he did not experience any problems with the plane which went through its last annual about 10 days prior to the mishap.
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND A FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS WERE THE RISING, ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN AND THE TAILWIND.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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