Incident Details
A pilot on a personal cross-country flight reported encountering smoke in the cockpit and oil on the windscreen while approaching the destination airstrip. These conditions limited forward visibility. During the landing, the pilot inadvertently touched down approximately 15 yards short of the intended landing site. The right wing of the airplane struck a stand of brush, causing the aircraft to pivot to the right. Subsequently, the left wing struck the ground. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the left-wing spar and the fuselage.
Aftermath
Following the accident, the pilot declined to disclose the airplane's location to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) or the Alaska State Troopers. Consequently, neither the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) nor the NTSB were able to examine the aircraft at the accident site. The airplane was eventually recovered to Soldotna, Alaska, where an FAA airworthiness aviation safety inspector from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office conducted an inspection. The inspector reported that the accident pilot had since sold the airplane on an "as is where is" basis. The new owner indicated that, aside from the damage sustained in the accident, there were no mechanical issues with the airplane.