Accident Overview
On September 10, 2010, at about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-20 airplane, registration N7414K, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing and collision with trees. The accident site was located approximately one-quarter mile northeast of the South Naknek Airport in South Naknek, Alaska. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The solo non-certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had departed the Naknek Airport, Naknek, Alaska, about 1755.
Pilot Account
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge on the day of the accident, the pilot reported that he was on a short, five-minute flight from Naknek to South Naknek. As he approached his destination airport, the airplane's engine began to lose power. The pilot applied carburetor heat, but it had no effect, and he subsequently turned the heat off. He noted that there were other airplanes in the destination airport's traffic pattern, so he extended his approach. The pilot again applied carburetor heat, again without effect. The engine continued to lose power, prompting the pilot to decide to land on a roadway. The airplane landed hard, exited the roadway, and collided with trees, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
Investigation
Due to the remote location of the accident site, the airplane was not examined by the NTSB.