No fatalities

Tailwheel Airplane Collides with Trees During Crosswind Landing Attempt

Talkeetna, AK, United States

On September 1, 2014, a PIPER PA 12 was involved in an aviation accident near Talkeetna, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with trees. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A tailwheel airplane bounced during a crosswind landing at an off-airport site, drifted left, and after a go-around attempt, collided with alder trees and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage.

Accident Details

During the landing phase at an off-airport site, the pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane was correcting for an 8-knot left quartering crosswind. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced. The pilot attempted to recover, but the airplane drifted to the left. He then applied full engine power to abort the landing. However, the airplane subsequently collided with a stand of alder trees at the end of the landing site and nosed over.

Pilot Actions

The pilot initiated a go-around by applying full power after the bounce and drift. Despite this effort, the airplane was unable to avoid the trees at the site's boundary. The nose-over occurred after the collision.

Damage

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing of the airplane. No other damage was reported.

Additional Information

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The specific aircraft type, registration, date, time of day, and other details were not disclosed.

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1 Sept 2014 PIPER PA 12 accident near Talkeetna, AK?

A tailwheel airplane bounced during a crosswind landing at an off-airport site, drifted left, and after a go-around attempt, collided with alder trees and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 1 Sept 2014 PIPER PA 12 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1 Sept 2014 involved a PIPER PA 12, at Talkeetna, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing, resulting in a runway excursion and collision with trees.