N94FB

On August 19, 1994, at 1750 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA18-150 airplane, N94FB, owned and operated by the pilot-in-command, collided with a tree during an attempted go-around from a remote tundra strip approximately 34 miles southwest of Koliganek, Alaska. The private certificated pilot and his passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pleasure flight, conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed Palmer, Alaska at 1750 on August 18 and the intended destination was the area in which the mishap occurred. According to the pilot, visual meteorological conditions prevailed and there was no flight plan in effect.

The pilot reported that he initially estimated the landing area to be about 600 feet long. During the landing attempt, he touched down in the middle of the landing area and then decided to go-around. The pilot added full power; however, the left wing and left landing gear struck a 20 foot high tree. After the accident, the pilot determined that the landing area was about 400 feet long.