# Accident 20160827025279A: Piper PA-18-150, North Pole, AK, August 27, 2016

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 27, 2016, 10:45 local time
- Place: North Pole, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.5111° N, 146.6822° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.5111&lon=-146.6822&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8998Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8998Y-2018-12-20) (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
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 600 total, 400 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC16LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA060) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160827025279A

## Narrative

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

STUDENT PILOT MET HIS INSTRUCTOR AT CHENA MARINA WHERE THEY BOTH INTENDED ON FLYING TO KOOLE LAKE. HIS PLAN WAS TO FOLLOW HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND TO RELY ON HIS EXPERIENCE BECAUSE HE WAS INSTRUMENT RATED AND WEATHER WISE.  PRIOR TO FLIGHT STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE AND THE INSTRUCTOR LISTENED TO THE ATIS BROADCAST FOR FAIRBANKS INTERNATIONAL AND THAT NO FORMAL BRIEFING WAS RECIEVED FROM FLIGHT SERVICE.  WHILE EN-ROUTE AT APPROXIMATLEY1400 FEET HE ENCOUNTERED A CLOUD LAYER AND DECIDED TO DESCEND UNDER IT TO 1000 FEET.  AT SOME POINT AND LOCATION STUDENT PILOT WAS NOT SURE OF HE STATED HE ENTERED A WHITE, SOLID CLOUD AND HAD NO VISIBILITY.  WHEN HE DID BREAK OUT OF THE CLOUD HE WAS STILL IN FOG AND COULD SEE TREES AHEAD.  HE CAUTIOUSLY BEGAN PULLING UP TO NOT STALL THE AIRPLANE BUT REALIZED AT THAT POINT HE WAS GOING TO CRASH AND AIMED THE AIRCRAFT BETWEEN THE TREES.

## 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 ANC16LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC16LA060), Aug 27, 2016: Piper PA 18-150 (N8998Y), Salcha, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to continue visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain.

## Other reports on N8998Y (2)

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

- [Accident 20110925027959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110925027959A), Sep 25, 2011: Piper PA-18-150 (N8998Y), Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Airman states that upon a return flight from birch lake, AK to Chena Marina, AK he was landing at Chena Marina (AK28) and "the air just gave out from under me"…
- [Accident 19761015033889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761015033889A), Oct 15, 1976: Piper PA18150 (N8998Y), Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Ran into chuck holes.

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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