Piper PA-18 N2521S

Summary

On 6 May 2004 at about 19:30 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N2521S was involved in an accident near Kasilof, Alaska, United States. One person was 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

6 May 2004 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kasilof, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.8000, -152.6667

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N2521S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anchorage → Kasilof

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC04LA051

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while landing, which resulted in an undershoot and an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the accident were a downdraft, and an embankment.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo private certificated pilot was landing on a remote sand-covered beach. He said he flew over the beach, and observed a small creek at the approach end of his intended landing site. He reported that during the landing flare, he encountered a slight downdraft, and he inadvertently allowed the airplane to descend below the intended glide path. He said that the main wheels struck the bank of the creek, and the right main landing gear collapsed. Following the landing gear collapse, the right wing struck the beach. The airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing, both right lift struts, and fuselage. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies noted with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.