On 9 Aug 2008, a Piper PA-20/22 operated by Donald Lee was involved in an aviation accident near Talkeetna, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot failed to maintain sufficient clearance from brush during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from NTSB.
A Piper PA-22 sustained substantial damage to its left horizontal stabilizer and wingtip after encountering brush during a landing roll.
What happened
On August 9, 2008, an airline transport pilot was performing an off-airport landing near Talkeetna, Alaska, under Title 14, CFR Part 91 regulations. During the landing roll, the Piper PA-22, registration N8433D, encountered brush. The impact caused substantial damage to the aircraft's left wingtip and left horizontal stabilizer. There were no injuries resulting from the event.
The investigation
The pilot reported that there were no known mechanical issues with the aircraft prior to the accident. Weather conditions at the time of the landing were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with visibility of 30 statute miles.
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain sufficient clearance from brush during the landing roll.