# NTSB ANC10CA034: Piper PA-18-150, N6891B, Willow, AK, May 1, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 1, 2010, 08:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Willow, AK - Coordinates: 62.164722, -150.373886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1647&lon=-150.3739&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75914 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC10CA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75914/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75914 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA034 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18S-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101832), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18S-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101832), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18S-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101832), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18S-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101832), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot, with one passenger, was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, personal flight when the accident occurred. The purpose of the flight was to search for a missing friend in an area of remote tree and snow-covered terrain. The pilot said that while flying slow and maneuvering at 75-feet above the ground, his passenger saw the missing man lying on the ground near a snow-covered meadow. The pilot reported that as he started a right turn back to the meadow, he added engine power, and initiated a climb, but the right wing stalled. He said that he initiated a stall recovery, but that the airplane descended nose down into the trees. The pilot said that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. ## Factual narrative The private pilot, with one passenger, was on a personal flight to search for a missing friend in an area of remote tree- and snow-covered terrain. The pilot said that while flying slow and maneuvering at 75 feet above the ground, his passenger saw the missing man lying on the ground near a snow-covered meadow. The pilot reported that, as he started a right turn back to the meadow, he added engine power and initiated a climb but that the right wing stalled. He said that he initiated a stall recovery, but that the airplane descended nose-down into the trees. The pilot said that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6891B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6891B), registered now, S/N 18-5080 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18S-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18s-150) (registry code 7101832) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5080 - Airframe hours: 4031 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Theodore A. Schachle - Registered owner: Theodore A. Schachle - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Willow, AK - Destination: Willow, AK - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 8, 2009; flight hours: 1,232 total, 1,232 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100501033049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100501033049A), May 1, 2010: Piper PA18S150, Trapper Creek, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot made a low pass over a missing person on the ground. After spotting the missing person the pilot looked up just in time to see trees in front and above… ## Other investigations on N6891B (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 ANC75DAG09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC75DAG09), Aug 1, 1974: Piper PA-18 (N6891B), Port Alswrth, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75914. 751 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 751 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332579&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.