20041015029539A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18-150 · Anchorage, AK · October 15, 2004

Date: October 15, 2004 · 22:07 local
Place: Anchorage, AK
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N4126E
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC05FA008
Reported as: Piper PA18150
Reported engine: Lycoming IO320*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1

N4126ERegistration cancelled Nov 7, 2012 · Piper PA-18-150S/N 18-7809080 · Built 1978 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.

(-23) Aircraft (float equipped PA-18) departed lake hood on special VFR for personal flight. Pilot used standard lake hood west route departure. Pilot could not climb to 1200' recommended alt to cross knik arm of the cook inlet due to low clouds. At mid channel of the knik arm a second PA-18 reported a fog at 200'. Witness statements from two individuals stated the aircraft came out of the fog in a steep (45 deg) turn at approximately 100' and descended into the water while still in the turn. Impact with the water high speed/low angle. As of October 26, 2004 the wreckage still has not been located.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AIRCRAFT (FLOAT EQUIPPED PA-18) DEPARTED LAKE HOOD ON SPECIAL VFR FOR PERSONAL FLIGHT. PILOT USED STANDARD LAKE HOOD WEST ROUTE DEPARTURE. PILOT COULD NOT CLIMB TO 1200' RECOMMENDED ALT TO CROSS KNIK ARM OF THE COOK INLET DUE TO LOW CLOUDS. AT MID CHANNEL OF THE KNIK ARM A SECOND PA-18 REPORTED A FOG AT 200'. WITNESS STATEMENTS FROM TWO INDIVIDUALS STATED THE AIRCRAFT CAME OUT OF THE FOG IN A STEEP (45 DEG) TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 100' AND DESCENDED INTO THE WATER WHILE STILL IN THE TURN. IMPACT WITH THE WATER HIGH SPEED/LOW ANGLE. AS OF OCTOBER 26, 2004 THE WRECKAGE STILL HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED.

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 ANC05FA008Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAnchorage, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with water during maneuvering flight. Factors contributing to the accident were fog and low ceilings.Oct 15, 2004 · Destroyed

Other reports on N4126E · 1

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

Accident 19780702030039ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Anchorage, AKJul 2, 1978 · Substantial damage