Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's inadvertent stall. A factor in the accident was the pilot's emotional reaction to the vehicle travelling through his yard.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot lives adjacent to an airstrip and a vehicle drove across the airstrip and his yard at a high rate of speed. He was very agitated and elected to fly his airplane in search of the vehicle. During his flight he made an abrupt pull up and steep bank and lost control of the airplane. The left wing struck the terrain and the airplane crashed.
Source record
Factual narrative
On June 3, 1995, at 1400 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper J3C-65 airplane, N32708, registered to and operated by the pilot, crashed near the mouth of Jim Creek and Knik River, near Palmer, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed the Butte Airstrip for a local flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the pilot, he lives adjacent to the Butte airstrip. On the day of the accident, a vehicle with young adults traveled down the airstrip and across his property at a high rate of speed. He elected to fly his airplane in search of the vehicle. He was flying low along the sandbars and shoreline of the Knik River. He pulled up abruptly attempting to reverse his direction of flight. The pilot stated that as soon as he pulled up he knew he was in trouble. His airspeed began to bleed off and the airplane began a descent. He added full power. The airplane continued its descent and the left wing dragged the ground and the airplane crashed onto the sand. The pilot stated he was very agitated at the "young adults" who drove through his yard and he wanted to find them. -