No fatalities

Off-Airport Landing Results in Substantial Damage to Horizontal Stabilizer and Wingtip

Talkeetna, AK, United States

On August 9, 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's failure to maintain clearance from brush during the landing roll. This summary draws on records from NTSB.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

An airline transport pilot reported that an airplane struck brush during a landing roll at an off-airport site under Part 91, causing substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and wingtip.

Incident Overview and Operational Context An airline transport pilot was conducting a landing at an off-airport site under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The source does not identify the specific aircraft type, registration, operator, date, or location. ## Pilot Account and Damage During the landing roll, the pilot stated that the airplane encountered brush. This contact resulted in substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and the wingtip. ## Mechanical Condition According to the pilot, there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The source does not provide a formal probable cause determination.

Contributing factors

Causes

Altitude — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 9 Aug 2008 Piper PA-20/22 accident near Talkeetna, AK?

An airline transport pilot reported that an airplane struck brush during a landing roll at an off-airport site under Part 91, causing substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and wingtip.

Were there any fatalities in the 9 Aug 2008 Piper PA-20/22 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 9 Aug 2008 involved a Piper PA-20/22, operated by Donald Lee, at Talkeetna, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from brush during the landing roll.