Serious incident Piper PA-28R-201 N38565, Tuesday 19 April 1983

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Date:	Tuesday 19 April 1983
Time:	14:05 LT
Type:	Piper PA-28R-201
Owner/operator:	Hub Air Service
Registration:	N38565
MSN:	28R-7737098
Year of manufacture:	1977
Total airframe hrs:	1619 hours
Engine model:	Lycoming IO-360-CIC6
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Minor
Category:	Serious incident
Location:	Mcgrath, AK - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:
Destination airport:	Mcgrath, AK (MCG)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS TO TAKEOFF FROM A MUDDY AIRSTRIP AND FAILING, THE PILOT OFF-LOADED ONE PASSENGER AND SOME BAGGAGE. ON THE FOURTH TAKEOFF ATTEMPT THE AIRCRAFT GOT AIRBORNE BUT SETTLED BACK TO A SNOW COVERED FROZEN RIVER. THE SNOW SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT AND THE PILOT REDUCED POWER WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A SMALL RIGHT TURN TO AVOID TREES AND THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED.

Probable Cause:

Accident investigation: