On July 1, 1998, a Piper PA-20 (registration N2163A) was involved in an aviation accident near Soldotna, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadvertent stall of the airplane. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A private pilot practicing touch-and-go landings at Soldotna Airport reported stalling the airplane prematurely, leading to a collision with vegetation. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Accident Details
A certificated private pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings with a friend at Soldotna Airport. The airplane collided with an area of high vegetation and came to rest about 30 feet from the end of the runway. The fuselage and wing lift struts sustained substantial damage. The pilot indicated there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane.
Pilot Statements
During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge one day after the accident, the pilot stated that he thought the winds were fairly calm as he approached runway 25. He said that while on final approach the wind increased to an estimated 10 to 15 knots from the west, and a strong downdraft pushed the airplane into trees. In his written statement dated July 27, 1998, the pilot reported that while practicing touch-and-go landings, he stalled the airplane prematurely.
Weather Conditions
The Soldotna Airport wind conditions at the time of the accident were reported to be 237 degrees (magnetic) at 7 knots.