SEWARD, AK, USA
N8918Y
Piper PA-18-150
The certificated private pilot was landing to the south on a 600 feet long gravel airstrip. The pilot stated that he thought the winds were fairly calm as he approached to land, but just before touchdown, the wind increased to an estimated 45 miles per hour from out of the south-southeast. He said that a strong downdraft pushed the airplane to the ground, and the main landing gear struck the airstrip, and the airplane nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons, both landing gear attach points, and both wing spars. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
On October 19, 1999, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N8918Y, sustained substantial damage while landing at a remote airstrip on Latouche Island, about 48 miles east of Seward, Alaska, at latitude 60 degrees, 40 minutes north, and longitude 147 degrees, 59 minuets west. The solo commercial pilot/airplane owner was not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on November 3, the pilot stated that he was flying to his cabin located on the northern tip of Latouche Island, after making an overnight stop on Montague Island. He said that after departing Montague Island for the short flight to Latouche Island, he thought the winds were fairly calm as he approached to land at his cabin site. He said that while landing to the south, and just before touchdown, the wind increased to an estimated 45 miles per hour from out of the south-southeast, and a strong downdraft pushed the airplane to the ground. He said the main landing gear struck the airstrip, and the airplane nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons, both landing gear attach points, and both wing spars. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, and a downdraft.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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