On 7 Oct 2015, a PIPER PA 12 operated by James and Deborah Lorence was involved in an aviation accident near Glennallen, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during the approach to land, resulting in a collision with trees. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During landing, the pilot did not realize he was not centered on the airstrip, resulting in the left wing striking trees and the airplane colliding with terrain, sustaining substantial damage.
Incident Overview
According to the pilot's report, while attempting to land at an airstrip, he did not realize that his airplane was not centered on the runway. As a result, during the approach, the left wing tip struck a tree. After the initial impact, the pilot attempted to maintain control, but the left wing subsequently struck a second tree. The airplane then collided with the terrain, coming to rest in brush.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. No other damage details were provided in the report.
Mechanical Status
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies before or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation.