N9038D

On June 29, 2004, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-22-160 airplane, N9038D, sustained substantial damage when its left main landing gear collided with rocks during the landing roll at the Beluga Lake airstrip, 35 miles northwest of Beluga, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal cross-country flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. The flight originated at the Birchwood Airport, Birchwood, Alaska, about 1445. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 1, the pilot said during the landing roll the airplane had slowed to about 25 knots, when the left main wheel collided with large rocks lining the left side of the landing area. He said the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing and propeller struck the ground. The pilot said the left wing lift strut and left wing were damaged, as were the propeller and fuselage. He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.