N8665ZCessna P206C · 1968

On May 27, 2011, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 206 airplane, N8665Z, sustained substantial damage during a collision with trees, while taking off from a private grass runway, about 5 miles east of Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Alaska Sky Sports, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) parachute jump flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot and the 5 jumpers were not injured.

During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 27, the pilot said the accident flight was the second flight of the day, and that the previous flight had been uneventful.

In a written statement dated June 4, the pilot reported that during the accident takeoff he anticipated torque and P-factor, and a left crosswind. At rotation he heard a "pop," and the airplane turned sharply left. He corrected with rudder and aileron, but over corrected, and the airplane veered to the right, he reduced power, and attempted to regain directional control. The right wing struck trees on the right side of the runway, and the airplane veered off the runway to the right.

On May 27, the airplane was examined by the NTSB IIC and an FAA aviation safety inspector at the accident site. In addition to damage to the right wing, the left wing impacted a group of trees, and the left main landing gear wheel separated from the airplane after striking a tree. The airplane came to rest in a grassy meadow on its belly and left wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.

During a follow up examination of the flight controls and landing gear by the IIC, control continuity was established to all the flight controls. No mechanical anomalies were found with the main landing gear wheel brakes, and nose wheel steering. The fractured left landing gear leg was examined by the IIC and an engineer from the FAA Aircraft Certification Office. The fracture surface appearance was consistent with an overload fracture.

On October 17, 2009, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna P206C airplane, N8665Z, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a fence and terrain while landing at a private airstrip, about 5 miles west of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Fairview East Airstrip, Palmer, about 1315.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 22, the pilot said he overran the end of the runway during landing, and collided with a fence and a ditch. He said the nose landing gear broke off, and the propeller struck the ground. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. He indicated there was damage to the nose landing gear and propeller.

During an examination of the airplane by the NTSB IIC on October 21, besides the nose gear and propeller damage, structural damage was discovered on the fuselage, aft of the baggage compartment. The certificated aviation mechanic who helped recover the airplane the day of the accident, said the airstrip was about 1,300 feet long, and the airplane touched down about 400 feet down the runway. He said the fuselage damage was due to a steel fencepost that penetrated the fuselage when the airplane collided with the airport's chain link perimeter fence.

In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot wrote that he should not have landed at that airstrip.