N3676T

On July 5, 1999, about 1040 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Taylorcraft F-19 airplane, N3676T, sustained substantial damage after colliding with terrain, about 16 miles south-southeast of Anchorage, Alaska, about latitude 60 degrees, 54.05 minutes north, and longitude 149 degrees, 58.2 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 6, 1999, the pilot reported he had landed at a remote strip along the Big Indian Creek, adjacent to the Chickaloon Flats area of the Kenai Peninsula. After fishing, he departed the 1,000 foot long strip toward the west. About 300 feet above the ground, the pilot said he discovered he had failed to put on his headset. He turned and reached into the back of the airplane to retrieve the headset. During the process of retrieving the headset, the airplane descended into the ground in a wings level attitude. The landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded about 75 feet along open ground. The pilot said he was knocked unconscious for a short period of time.

The airplane received damage to the landing gear, fuselage, and wings. A passing airplane spotted the wreckage, and the pilot was transported to a hospital by helicopter.