On October 8, 1989, a Champion 7KCAB (registration N5222X) was involved in an aviation accident near Montague Island, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: ROUGH TERRAIN, GUSTY WINDS, HIGH VEGETATION, AND TREES. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported that during landing on a rough sandbar, a gust of wind and uneven terrain caused the aircraft to bounce sideways, leading to a collision with bushes and trees.
Accident Overview
The pilot of an aircraft reported that the accident occurred during a landing on an unimproved, rough sandbar. The pilot stated that after touchdown, the aircraft had traveled approximately 50 feet when rough terrain and a slight gust of wind caused it to bounce sideways.
Sequence of Events
Following the sideways bounce, the right wingtip struck small bushes, which yawed the aircraft to the right. The aircraft then veered into alders and small trees. The pilot estimated that the wind was from 010 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots.
Environmental Conditions
The landing surface was an unimproved sandbar described as rough. The wind direction was from 010 degrees with a speed of 10 knots and gusts to 15 knots. No other environmental conditions were reported.