Piper PA-19 Super Cub, N6PF: Accident occurred July 20, 2019 near Skwentna Airport (PASW), Alaska

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/N6PF

Location: Skwentna, AK
Accident Number: ANC19TA037
Date & Time: 07/20/2019, 1657 AKD
Registration: N6PF
Aircraft: Piper PA19
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On July 20, 2019, about 1657 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-19 airplane, N6PF, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during landing on a remote unimproved airstrip about 20 miles southwest of the Skwentna Airport (SKW), Skwentna, Alaska. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a visual flight rules personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Lake Hood Airport (LHD), Anchorage, Alaska, about 1515.

The pilot reported that the winds that day were gusting and variable, so he overflew the airstrip twice to evaluate windsocks that are situated at each end of the airstrip. He further added, one windsock indicated no wind, and the other windsock indicated wind mostly from the north. The pilot made a visual approach to land to the north, but as he started to flare, he felt a tailwind "push" the airplane from behind. He initiated a go around, "lost control," and the airplane descended and rolled left. Subsequently, the airplane drifted left and struck a large tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.

After the accident, the pilot was able to egress and call for assistance. The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center and LifeMed responded. The passenger was then extracted from the wreckage and transported to a local hospital by air ambulance.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N6PF
Model/Series: PA19 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PANC, 120 ft msl
Observation Time: 1653 AKD
Distance from Accident Site: 50 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 19°C / 13°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 3000 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 300°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 4500 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.1 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Anchorage, AK (LHD)
Destination: Skwentna, AK (1AK8)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries:1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 61.687778, -151.400833 (est)