N3458N

On July 21, 2004, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper J3C airplane, N3458N, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and the ground during the initial climb after takeoff from a remote mountainous area, about 17 miles southeast of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required for the intended flight to Wasilla, Alaska.

At 2127, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) was notified by FAA personnel that an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was being received in the area of mountainous terrain, and search aircraft had located an overturned airplane in a canyon area. A rescue helicopter landed near the accident and picked up the pilot.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on July 22, the pilot reported that he landed along a creek area at an old airstrip. The airstrip was oriented north/south at an elevation of about 1,600 feet msl. The pilot said that when he began his departure, the wind was blowing from the south about 20 knots. The pilot reported that he departed toward the south and during the initial climb, about 500 feet above the ground, the airplane encountered a downdraft, and descended and collided with several trees along the creek bed. The airplane then collided with uneven terrain and received damage to the landing gear, wings, and fuselage. The pilot said that after the crash, he exited the airplane and began removing survival equipment and his global positioning system (GPS) receiver. As he walked near the front end of the airplane, he said that a gust of wind lifted the tail of the airplane and blew it over, on top of him.