# Accident 20080606838659A: Piper PA18, Quinhagak, AK, June 6, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 6, 2008, 19:00 local time
- Place: Quinhagak, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 59.4681° N, 161.7847° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.4681&lon=-161.7847&mi=10
- Aircraft: N897SP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N897SP-2017-03-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18 (registry code 7101802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-C4P (registry code 42289, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c4p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 500 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC08FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08FA072) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080606838659A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2008 AT ABOUT 1910 LCL TIME, 15 MILES TO THE SOUTHWEST OF QUINHAGAK, AK.  A TROOPER AIRPLANE SAW THE COLUMN OF SMOKE, THE TROOPER, PROCEEDED TO INVESTIGATE AN AIRPLANE CRASHED AND BURNING ON THE BEACH (TIDAL ZONE).  MANY PICTURES WERE TAKEN OF THE ACCIDENT THE TROOPER ESTABLISHED RADIO CONTACT WITH ANOTHER PILOT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, EYE WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED VIA SATELLITE PHONE THAT HE AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD BEEN SIGHTSEEING FROM THE AIR WHEN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SAW A WHALE VERTEBRAE (TREE STUMP) AND BEGAN CIRCLING THE BONES (100 FT ALTITUDE, AGL).  THE SECOND TIME ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AIRPLANE CIRCLED, THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SPUN AND HIT THE GROUND AND BURNED.  BEFORE THE AIRCRAFT SUBMERGED IN WATER, THE TROOPERS LANDED, RECOVERED THE BODY, AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE CRASH SCENE.  THE TROOPER PILOT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A HEAVY CROSSWIND AT ABOUT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  THE AIRPLANE'S INCINERATED WRECKAGE HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO NUMEROUS TIDE CYCLES, AND NO WRECKAGE RECOVERY IS EXPECTED.  THE INVESTIGATION CONTINOUS, AND AMENDED TO FOLLOW.

## 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 ANC08FA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08FA072), Jun 7, 2008: Piper PA-18 (N897SP), Quinhagak, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude in high winds, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and uncontrolled descent to the ground. Contributing to the…

## Other reports on N897SP (3)

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

- [Incident 20050814021249I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050814021249I), Aug 14, 2005: Piper PA18 (N897SP), Clark Fork, MT, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot states he lost power while flying at approximately 500 feet over the Clark Fork south of frenchtown, Montana. The pilot then set up for an approach…
- [Accident 19990606021589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990606021589A), Jun 6, 1999: Piper PA18 (N897SP), Glenwood Spring, CO, Substantial damage. On June 6, 1999, at 1617 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18, N897SP, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain while landing at Glenwood…
- [Accident 19820620024199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820620024199A), Jun 20, 1982: Piper PA18 (N897SP), Hobart, IN, Substantial damage. Engine quit during steep climb after takeoff. Aircraft crashed into trees during emergency landing.

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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