19970708017179A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18-150 · Cantwell, AK · July 8, 1997

Date: July 8, 1997 · 13:30 local
Place: Cantwell, AK
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: EOGA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3952Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC97LA100
Reported as: Piper PA18150
Reported engine: Lycoming O320A2B
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 14,800 total6,100 in this make and model

N3952ZRegistered now · Piper PA-18-150S/N 18-7810 · Built 1962 Airframe modelPiper PA-18-150 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The air taxi pilot and passenger were approaching a mountain ridge from below. Both occupants described conditions favoring a downslope wind and turbulence at the ridge. The pilot attempted to turn when he realized they would not clear the ridge, but the airplane descended and impacted terrain. The airplane was estimated to weigh 1,827 pounds at the time of the last takeoff. The maximum takeoff weight is 1,760 pounds. The elevation at the accident site was 4,500 feet MSL.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE AIR TAXI PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE APPROACHING A MOUNTAIN RIDGE FROM BELOW. BOTH OCCUPANTS DESCRIBED CONDITIONS FAVORING A DOWNSLOPE WIND AND TURBULENCE AT THE RIDGE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TURN WHEN HE REALIZED THEY WOULD NOT CLEAR THE RIDGE, BUT THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED AND IMPACTED TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS ESTIMATED TO WEIGH 1,827 POUNDS AT THE TIME OF THE LAST TAKEOFF. THE MAXIMUM TAKEOFF WEIGHT IS 1,760 POUNDS. THE ELEVATION AT THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS 4,500 FEET MSL.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC97LA100Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCantwell, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude to clear terrain. Factors were exceeding the airplane's maximum allowable gross weight, and downdrafts and turbulence associated with wind flowing across a mountain ridge.Jul 8, 1997 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3952Z · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19841001052809ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Ohio Creek, AKRight main wheel adaptor separated on landing. Caused loss of directional control, nosed over.Oct 1, 1984 · Substantial damage Accident 19750325009889ATakeoff Ground Roll · Cantwell, AKWet,sticky snow. Ski eqpd.Mar 25, 1975 · Substantial damage