Amateur-built Pietenpol Air Camper accident near Soldotna, Alaska, June 27, 2008
On June 27, 2008 at about 4:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Pietenpol Air Camper, registered N165MS, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Soldotna, Alaska (Soldotna airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 27, 2008 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · Soldotna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Pietenpol Air Camper
- Registration
- N165MS · no longer on the register · serial MAS-65
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was landing on a dry paved runway. During touchdown, the airplane bounced, and the student pilot attempted to recover from the bounced landing, but the airplane bounced a second time, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane went off the left side of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. At the time of the accident, winds were reported to be calm. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 30 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 136 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ford Escort 1.6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SXQ Soldotna AK
- Destination: XQ Soldotna AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,000 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.