20170527010979A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Arctic S-1B2 · Salcha, AK · May 27, 2017

Date: May 27, 2017 · 11:00 local
Place: Salcha, AK
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N57AT
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC17FA026
Reported as: Arctic S-1B2
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 2
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N57ATRegistration cancelled Apr 19, 2019 · Arctic S-1B2S/N 1008 · Built 1978 Airframe modelArctic S-1B2 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.

It was reported that the flight was originated for a welfare check on passenger's son performing float trip on Salcha river. Witness stated that pilot overflew gravel strip and made a turn possibly attempting to return and land. Witness stated aircraft nosed over almost verticle and engine RPM was audible and increasing. NTSB investigator stated aircraft impacted ground in small grove of black spruce trees in near verticle impact with aircraft settling back towards tail of aircraft after impact.

As the FAA filed it

IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATED FOR A WELFARE CHECK ON PASSENGER'S SON PERFORMING FLOAT TRIP ON SALCHA RIVER. WITNESS STATED THAT PILOT OVERFLEW GRAVEL STRIP AND MADE A TURN POSSIBLY ATTEMPTING TO RETURN AND LAND. WITNESS STATED AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER ALMOST VERTICLE AND ENGINE RPM WAS AUDIBLE AND INCREASING. NTSB INVESTIGATOR STATED AIRCRAFT IMPACTED GROUND IN SMALL GROVE OF BLACK SPRUCE TREES IN NEAR VERTICLE IMPACT WITH AIRCRAFT SETTLING BACK TOWARDS TAIL OF AIRCRAFT AFTER IMPACT.

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 ANC17FA026Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportSalcha, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering in high winds, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to load the…May 27, 2017 · Substantial damage