# Accident 20150604008722A: Piper PA-18-150, Mccarthy, AK, June 4, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 4, 2015, 11:00 local time
- Place: Mccarthy, AK
- Airport: Peavine Bar
- Damage: Minor damage
- Collision: Collision on the ground
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.0996° N, 145.5300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0996&lon=-145.5300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N985W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N985W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 210 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC15LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150604008722A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 4, 2015, ABOUT 1100 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N985W, A PIPER PA-18-150 AIRPLANE, WAS STRUCK BY THE SPINNING PROPELLER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOAD THE AIRPLANE, 15 MILES EAST OF MCCARTHY, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE AND THE CERTIFICATED AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.

IN STATEMENTS PROVIDED BY THE UNITED STATES PARK SERVICE, AIRMAN AND WITNESSES, IT WAS STATED THAT FOUR AIRPLANES, FLYING AS A GROUP, HAD LANDED AT PEAVINE BAR AIRSTRIP IN THE WRANGELL - ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK. TO WARM THE ENGINE OIL AND TO STAVE OFF SWARMS OF MOSQUITOS WHILE LOADING THE AIRPLANES, THE ENGINES OF ALL FOUR AIRPLANES WERE STARTED AND ALLOWED TO OPERATE AT IDLE, WITH THE COCKPITS UNATTENDED.

WHILE LOADING GEAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE, THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE (N57532), ALSO A PIPER, PA-18, BEGAN SLOWLY MOVING FORWARD. THE PILOT OF N985W ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND THE FRONT OF HIS AIRPLANE TOWARDS THE LEFT WING TO PREVENT THE TWO AIRPLANES FROM MAKING CONTACT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PILOT RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE SPINNING PROPELLER RESULTING IN FATAL INJURIES.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N57532, Piper PA-18-150: no report for this aircraft; [N57532](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57532) is registered now

## 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 ANC15LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA035), Jun 4, 2015: Piper PA 18-150 (N985W), McCarthy, AK, minor damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate clearance from the spinning propeller while traversing the area between the leading edge of the wing and the nose of the airplane. Contributing to the accident…

## Other reports on N985W (1)

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

- [Accident 20080303012729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080303012729A), Mar 3, 2008: Piper PA18150 (N985W), Farewell Lake, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft took off from Farewell Lake in the direction of Farewell lodge. The pilot reported that at fifty feet in the air the aircraft was not able to…

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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