# Accident 19980531014869A: Piper PA18150, Talkeetna, AK, May 31, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 1998, 20:00 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.4495° N, 149.7903° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4495&lon=-149.7903&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4587A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4587A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18A 150 (registry code 7101837, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,300 total, 1,720 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA063) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980531014869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LOW PASS TO SURVEY LANDING SITE. COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN ON PULLUP. (.4) ON MAY 31, 1998, ABOUT 2000 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE, N4587A, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING A LOW PASS OVER A POTENTIAL LANDING SITE LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES NORTHWEST OF TALKEETNA, ALASKA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT AND THE ONE PASSENGER ABOARD WERE NOT INJURED. THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT DEPARTED TALKEETNA ABOUT 1830. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON JUNE 1, THE PILOT RELATED HE WAS TAKING ONE PASSENGER TO SCOUT POTENTIAL SITES FOR A FUTURE RAFTING TRIP. ON ONE LOW PASS OVER A RIDGE TOP, THE PILOT SAID HE MISCALCULATED THE PITCH OF THE RISING TERRAIN. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB AS RAPIDLY AS THE RISING TERRAIN, AND COLLIDED WITH A HILLSIDE. THE PILOT INDICATED THERE WERE NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE.                          (-23) ON MAY 31, 1998, A WHEEL EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18 AIRCRAFT, N4587A, COLLIDED WITH RISING TERRAIN DURING A LOW PASS WHILE EVALUATING A LANDING SITE.   PILOT STATED HE MISCALCULATED THE PITCH OF THE RISING TERRAIN, AND INITIATED HIS APPROACH AT TOO LOW AN ALTITUDE. HE ALSO ENCOUNTERED AN INCREASING SINK RATE AS HE NEARED THE LANDING AREA. THE PILOT ELECTED TO APPLY POWER AND LAND ON THE UPSLOPE BELOW THE LANDING AREA. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER IN THE ROUGH TERRAIN WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED A SNOW BANK. THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED ON ITS NOSE APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET BEFORE STOPPING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC98LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA063), Jun 1, 1998: Piper PA-18 (N4587A), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from rising terrain. A factor associated with the accident was rising terrain.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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