# Accident 20180609017039A: Piper PA-18, Sitka, AK, June 9, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 2018, 20:00 local time
- Place: Sitka, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 57.1717° N, 135.2767° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.1717&lon=-135.2767&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1203A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC18FA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA044) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180609017039A

## Narrative

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

6/9/18 AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE SITKA, AK FLOATPLANE BASE FOR A 30 MINUTE PART 91 FLIGHT. REPORTED OVERDUE BY FAMILY.

6/11/18 USCG LOCATED N1203A WRECKAGE AT 5710.3/13516.6 (8 NNE SIT) IN THE KATLIAN RIVER AT. AT LEAST 1 POB (POSSIBLY 2 BOB), AIRCRAFT WAS IN A NOSE DOWN TAIL UP POSITION IN 6-8 FT OF WATER.

6/12/18 ON-SEEN INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND BOTH INDIVIDUALS HAD DIED ON IMPACT, NO INDICATION OF SHOULDER HARNESS USE. PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED EJECTING THE PASSENGER FROM THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN OLDER 121.9 ELT, WHICH NEVER ACTIVATED.

IN TALKING WITH THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR, WE BOTH THINK THE CRASH MAY HAVE BEEN SURVIVABLE IF BOTH POB WERE WEARING SHOULDER HARNESSES AND HELMETS. PASS STUDIES HAVE SHOWN UP TO A 50% SURVIVAL RATE WHEN WEARING SHOULDER HARNESSES COMBINED WITH HELMET USE. A NEW 406 ELT POSSIBLY WOULD OF HELP LOCATE THE CRASH EARLIER.

11/15/2019 NOTE AIRCRAFT OWNERSHIP WAS NOT TRANSFERED FROM PREVIOUS OWNER EVEN THOUGH THE AIRCRAFT WAS PURCHASED OVER A YEAR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AIRCRAFT WAS NOT INSURED.

2/26/2019 FINAL MEDICAL CASE REVIEW COMPLETED WITH NO ADDITIONAL FINDINGS.

## 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 ANC18FA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18FA044), Jun 9, 2018: Piper PA18 (N1203A), Sitka, AK, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack for unknown reason, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a loss of control.

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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