Piper PA-20 N1594A

Summary

On 2 September 2010 at about 05:00 local time, a Piper PA-20 registered N1594A, operated by Fowler Raymond D, was involved in an accident near Akhiok, 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

2 September 2010 at 05:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Akhiok, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Sitkinak Island

Coordinates

56.5400, -154.1450

Aircraft

Piper PA-20

Registration

N1594A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Fowler Raymond D

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kodiak → Akhiok

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ANC10CA082

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control while maneuvering at a low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was on a personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. He said he had arrived at an abandoned gravel airstrip, and was making a low pass to assess wind and runway conditions for landing. He said while making a pass 12-15 feet above the ground, he decided the conditions were not right for landing due to a crosswind. He reported that as he applied power to terminate the low pass, a gust of wind from the right rolled the airplane to the left, and the left wing struck the ground. The pilot said despite full rudder, aileron, and power, he was unable to overcome the roll. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident, and that the wings and fuselage sustained substantial damage during the accident. The pilot said he had not realized how the topography around the strip influenced the crosswind, and how fast the weather conditions were changing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.