ANC97LA081

Factual narrative

On June 1, 1997, about 1825 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-22, N3602A, crashed during takeoff at the Healy River Airport, Healy, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported the airplane was departing runway 15. Skid marks on the runway indicated the airplane departed the left side of the runway, down an embankment. The airplane came to rest about 75 feet below the level of the runway. On June 3, 1997, at 1345, in a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported he started the takeoff with a right quartering headwind of about 5 knots. He noticed a dark cloud about 1 mile to the west of the airport. During the takeoff roll, the right wing began to rise. Full right aileron control could not prevent the right wing from continuing to rise. The airplane was pushed to the left, off the edge of the runway. The airplane then stalled, and descended to the ground in a near nose level attitude. The airplane received damage to the left wing, fuselage, and landing gear. The closest official weather observation station is Healy, Alaska. On June 1, 1997, at 1825, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, 244 degrees (magnetic) at 8 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles in light rain showers; clouds, 4,000 feet broken, 10,000 feet overcast; temperature, 44 degrees F; dew point, 37 degrees F; altimeter, 29.55 inHg. The NTSB pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) was not returned by the pilot. The pilot was departing in a tailwheel equipped airplane from a runway that was located along and above a small creek. A right crosswind of about 8 knots was prevailing at the airport. During the takeoff roll, the right wing began to rise. Full right aileron control did not prevent the right wing from continuing to rise. The airplane departed off the left edge of the runway and became airborne. It then stalled and descended about 75 ft to the ground in a near nose level attitude. The airplane received damage to the left wing, fuselage, and landing gear. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12