# NTSB ANC11CA092: Piper PA-18-150, N83283, Deadhorse, AK, September 4, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 3, 2011, 18:00 local (Sep 4, 2011, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Deadhorse, AK
- Coordinates: 69.25, -147.216659
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=69.2500&lon=-147.2167&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA FSDO-01
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81692
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA092
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81692/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81692
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA092

## Probable cause

The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Ceiling/visibility/precip: obscuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035030/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: VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 392 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot said that, during a visual flight to a remote hunting camp, he encountered an area of fog. He said that he was flying close to a ridge and trying to maintain visual reference when the right wing struck the ridge slope. The airplane turned toward the terrain and impacted the ground, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

## Factual narrative

The pilot said he was approaching a remote hunting camp in an area of fog. He said he was too close to a ridge, trying to maintain visual reference, when the right wing struck the ridge slope. The airplane turned toward the terrain, and impacted the ground, receiving substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N83283](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N83283), registered now, S/N 18-7609065, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7609065
- Airframe hours: 1416
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Stott David L
- Registered owner: Stott David L
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2011
- Departed: Deadhorse, AK
- Destination: Deadhorse, AK
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 2,860 total, 350 in this make and model, 2,860 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 45 °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 20110903021629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110903021629A), Sep 3, 2011: Piper PA-18-150, Deadhorse, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he entered a valley with low ceilings and attempted a 180 degree turn, the aircraft contacted the hillside with the right wing.…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81692. 584 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 584 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360127&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.

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