Port Alsworth, AK, USA
N996PK
Piper PA-32-260
The certificated commercial pilot was departing on a cross-country other work use flight operated under Title 14, CFR Part 91, with a six passengers. Shortly after a takeoff to the north, the flight encountered moderate, sometimes severe turbulence, and the pilot elected to return to the departure airport by making a right turn, towards an area of mountainous terrain. During the turn, the wind increased significantly out of the northeast, and a series of strong downdrafts and associated windshear, pushed the airplane into the tree-covered terrain. During the impact, the left wing was severed from the fuselage, and the airplane pivoted 180 degrees, coming to rest in a nose high position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot said that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane.
On October 9, 2006, about 1030 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-32-260 airplane, N996PK, sustained substantial damage when it impacted tree-covered terrain about 1 mile northeast of Port Alsworth, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country other work use flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The accident pilot owned the airplane. Of the seven people on board, the certificated commercial pilot and three passengers sustained no injuries, two passengers sustained serious injuries, and one passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions were reported in the area at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Port Alsworth about 1015, and the destination was the Egegik Airport, Egegik, Alaska. During telephone conversations with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 9 and 10, the pilot, an employee of the Tanalian Bible Camp, reported that he was transporting camp guests back to the community of Egegik at the conclusion of 3-day conference in Port Alsworth. He said that shortly after takeoff from Runway 5L, the flight encountered moderate, sometimes severe turbulence, and he elected to return to Port Alsworth by making a right turn, towards an area of mountainous terrain. During the turn, the wind increased significantly out of the northeast, and a series of strong downdrafts and associated windshear, pushed the airplane into the tree-covered terrain. During the impact, the left wing was severed from the fuselage, and the airplane pivoted 180 degrees, coming to rest in a nose high position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot said that there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control while maneuvering, and an in-flight collision with tree covered terrain. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's inadequate evaluation of weather conditions, downdrafts, and mountainous/hilly terrain.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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