- Date
- March 13, 2010, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Aniak, AK
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8820DPiper PA-22-160
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 1, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-03
- Case key
- 75493
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to maneuver at a low altitude during gusting wind conditions, resulting in a collision with terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The private pilot was on a personal cross-country flight in a ski-equipped airplane when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that he was flying about 75 feet above the ground looking for a landing area on a frozen river. He said that the wind was gusting and that the airplane rolled 90 degrees and he was unable to counter the roll before the airplane impacted terrain. He reported there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The private pilot was on a personal cross-country flight in a ski-equipped airplane, operating under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was flying about 75 feet above the ground looking for a landing area on a frozen river. He said the wind was gusting, the airplane rolled 90 degrees, and he was unable to counter the roll before the airplane impacted terrain. He reported there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8820D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-160
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-5989
- Airframe hours
- 4,407
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Donhauser Robert
- Registered owner
- Donhauser Robert
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 28, 2009
- Departed
- Stoney River, AK
- Destination
- Georgetown, AK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 11, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,185 total · 2,700 in this make and model · 4,185 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 15 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 12 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 798 KB in all.