No fatalities

Pilot Misjudges Alignment During Landing, Strikes Trees

Glennallen, AK, United States

On October 7, 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.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

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.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotAwareness of condition

Other contributing factors

Effect on equipment

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 7 Oct 2015 PIPER PA 12 accident near Glennallen, AK?

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.

Were there any fatalities in the 7 Oct 2015 PIPER PA 12 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 7 Oct 2015 involved a PIPER PA 12, operated by James and Deborah Lorence, at Glennallen, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during the approach to land, resulting in a collision with trees.