Casualties unknown

Private Pilot and Passenger Assess Mountain Landing Strip; Aircraft Damaged During Avoiding Manuever (N6996D)

Palmer, AK, US

On September 10, 1995, a Piper PA-18 (registration N6996D) operated by James L. Baum was involved in an aviation accident near Palmer, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the pilot to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from terrain, during a low pass over a prospective (off-airport) landing area. Factors relating to the accident were: rain and rising/uneven terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During a low pass over a remote mountain landing strip at 5,000 ft msl, a pilot's view was obscured by rain. While turning away from rising terrain, the landing gear struck tundra, leading to damage.

Incident Overview

A certificated private pilot and a passenger were evaluating a landing strip in a remote, mountainous area. The landing area was situated at an elevation of 5,000 feet mean sea level. At the time, numerous rain showers were present in the vicinity.

According to the pilot, during the second low pass over the landing area, the aircraft was headed toward upsloping terrain. The pilot's vision was obscured by rain. Upon noticing that the terrain was rising sharply, the pilot initiated a turn away from the slope.

During the turn, the landing gear struck the tundra-covered terrain. Subsequently, the airplane descended into the terrain. The aircraft sustained damage to the landing gear, left wing, and propeller.

No other details were provided regarding the aircraft type, registration, or the extent of injuries.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001207X04406. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.