On August 31, 1985, a Piper PA-14 (registration N5188H) was involved in an aviation accident near Cape Yakataga, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around attempt on an unprepared landing site, resulting in a short landing and subsequent gear collapse upon impact with terrain obstacles. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Aircraft touched down short of an intended sandy landing area during a gusty crosswind approach, striking a boulder that caused the landing gear to collapse.
What happened
The pilot elected to land on a narrow, unprepared strip of sandy and gravel terrain measuring approximately 600 feet in length and 100 feet in width. This area was situated between hills rising 100 to 150 feet high. During the approach, which involved crosswind conditions, the aircraft's rate of descent began to increase unexpectedly. In an attempt to arrest this descent, the pilot applied full power. Despite this action, the aircraft touched down short of the intended landing zone. Shortly after touchdown, the landing gear struck a boulder, causing it to collapse.
The investigation
The pilot reported that at the tops of the surrounding hills, the crosswind was variable between 10 and 15 knots and gusty. These conditions likely contributed to the difficulty in maintaining proper glide path control during the final approach phase.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a go-around attempt on an unprepared landing site, resulting in a short landing and subsequent gear collapse upon impact with terrain obstacles.