ANC98LA045

Factual narrative

On May 6, 1998, at 1825 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped, Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N7468D, sustained substantial damage during landing at the Chena Marina Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The solo private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had originated from Chena Marina at 1810 as a local flight after maintenance. The pilot was returning to land at the departure airport due to thunderstorms in the area. During a telephone interview with the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge and FAA inspectors on May 8, 1998, the pilot stated he was landing on runway 19 in variable winds, gusting to 14 knots. He said that after touchdown, a strong gust from the left pushed the airplane off the right side of the 4,700 feet long by 60 feet wide, gravel runway. The airplane struck an unmanned helicopter parked approximately 50 feet outside the right edge of the approach end of runway 19. The private pilot stated that during landing with variable, 10 knot winds, gusting to 14 knots, a gust from the left pushed the airplane off the right side of the runway. The airplane struck an unmanned helicopter parked 50 feet outside the edge of the 4,700 x 60 foot runway. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12