Directional Control Loss During Dog-Leg Turn Results in Substantial Damage

Incident Overview

While landing at a remote airstrip, the pilot of a tundra tire-equipped airplane experienced a loss of directional control while attempting to negotiate a dog-leg turn. According to the pilot, the large tundra tires reduced the responsiveness of the aircraft to control inputs during the turn. This resulted in the right wing striking adjacent vegetation, which pulled the airplane off the airstrip and into surrounding trees and brush.

Aircraft Damage

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the left horizontal stabilizer as a result of the impact with vegetation and subsequent collision with trees and brush.

Pilot Statement

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, indicating that the loss of control was not due to any mechanical failure. The pilot attributed the incident solely to the reduced control responsiveness caused by the large tundra tires during the dog-leg turn.