What happened
On May 6, 2011, a Piper PA-18-125, registration N1129A, was performing a final approach to an off-airport landing site near Cordova, Alaska. While the aircraft was approximately 50 feet above the ground, it began to sink violently and impacted the terrain. The weather conditions at the time were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 10 statute miles and winds from 000 degrees at 10 knots.
The impact resulted in one serious injury and one minor injury, with no fatalities. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings.
The investigation
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident. However, the pilot noted that the wind conditions in the area were very erratic.