Piper J3C N3458N

Summary

On 22 July 2004 at about 00:00 local time, a Piper J3C registered N3458N, operated by Ronald E. Hills, was involved in an accident near Palmer, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 July 2004 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Palmer, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.3433, -148.8233

Aircraft

Piper J3C

Registration

N3458N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Ronald E. Hills

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palmer → Wasilla

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC04CA082

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions which resulted in an encounter with a downdraft during the takeoff/initial climb, and subsequent collision with trees and terrain. Factors contributing to the accident were the presence of a downdraft, and mountainous terrain features.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private certificated pilot was departing an old airstrip located along a creek. The creek area is located in a canyon in mountainous terrain. The pilot said that when he began his departure, the wind was blowing from the south about 20 knots. The pilot reported that he departed toward the south and during the initial climb, about 500 feet above the ground, the airplane encountered a downdraft, and descended and collided with several trees along the creek bed. The airplane then collided with uneven terrain and received damage to the landing gear, wings, and fuselage. The pilot said that after the crash, he exited the airplane and began removing survival equipment and his global positioning system (GPS) receiver. As he walked near the front end of the airplane, he said that a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane and blew it over, on top of him.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.