N3416M

On August 30, 2001, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N3416M, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Chena Marina Airstrip, located about 5 miles southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska. 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 private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 30, the pilot reported she applied full engine power to begin the takeoff roll on runway 36 at Chena Marina. The pilot said the left main landing gear tire encountered a rut on the runway, and the airplane began to veer to the left. The airplane began to depart the runway surface off the left side of the airstrip, and the pilot said she aborted the takeoff. The airplane continued to the left and collided with a stack of cut wood logs. Both the main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane received damage to the propeller, fuselage, wings, and wing lift struts. The pilot indicated the wind was from 070 degrees at 8 knots.

The Chena Marina Airstrip is a private airfield with a gravel surface runway that is 4,700 feet long, and 75 feet wide.