# NTSB ANC15LA035: Piper PA 18-150, N985W, McCarthy, AK, June 4, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2015, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: McCarthy, AK - Coordinates: 62.099609, -145.529968 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.0996&lon=-145.5300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91319 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91319/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91319 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA035 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure adequate clearance from the spinning propeller while traversing the area between the leading edge of the wing and the nose of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the decision to leave the cockpits of the airplanes unattended while the engines were idling and gear was being loaded on board. ## 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, 3,100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [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, 3,100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident airplane and three other airplanes were parked in a slightly staggered line and were being prepared for a cross-country group instructional flight. To stave off swarms of mosquitos while loading the airplanes, the engines of all four airplanes were started and allowed to operate at idle with the cockpits unattended. While the pilot was loading gear onto the right side of the accident airplane, the unoccupied airplane to the left of the accident airplane began slowly moving forward. The pilot attempted to go around the front of the accident airplane toward the left wing, likely to avoid the propeller of the moving airplane. Subsequently, the pilot was struck three times by the back of the accident airplane's spinning propeller. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2015, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, the pilot-in-command of N985W, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, was struck by the spinning propeller while attempting to load the airplane, 15 miles east of McCarthy, Alaska. The airplane sustained minor damage and the certificated airline transport pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to Hunter Creek, LLC, and operated by Alaska Cub Training Specialists, Palmer, Alaska, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. In statements provided to the United States Park Service and National Transportation Safety Board, witnesses stated that four airplanes, flying as a group, had landed at Pevine Bar Airstrip in the Wrangell - St. Elias National Park. To stave off swarms of mosquitos while loading the airplanes, the engines of all four airplanes were started and allowed to operate at idle, with the cockpits unattended. While loading gear on the right side of the airplane, the unoccupied airplane to the left of the accident airplane, also a Piper, PA-18, began slowly moving forward. The pilot of N985W attempted to go around the front of his airplane towards the left wing. Subsequently, the pilot made contact with the back of the spinning propeller, and was struck three times. During an examination of the airplanes by the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 3, 2015, paint transfers were noted on both airplanes. The left wingtip of N985W (yellow in color) had two areas of scraped fabric about 1 inch in length. The top of the left wing was abraded with chordwise striations about 13 1/2 inches inboard from the left wingtip about 9 inches long and .75 inches wide. The other airplane (black in color) had chordwise, yellow paint transfer on the bottom of the right wing leading edge; about 13.5 inches outboard of the outboard tie down ring. The closest weather reporting facility is Gulkana Airport, Gulkana, Alaska, 95 miles from the accident site. At 1053, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) from the Gulkana Airport was reporting in part: wind from 040 degrees at 7 knots; sky condition, clear; visibility, 10 statute miles; temperature 52 degrees F; dew point 36 degrees F; altimeter 29.39 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N985W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N985W), registered now, S/N 18-7609, built 1961 (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: 18-7609 - Year built: 1961 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Alaska Cub Training Specialists - Registered owner: Hunter Creek LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: IYS, WASILLA, AK - Destination: KTN, KETCHIKAN, AK - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: 15Z, Mc Carthy ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: fatal; flight engineer, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: none; toxicology performed; flight hours: 12,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.38 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: PAGK, 95 nm away ## 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 20150604008722A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150604008722A), Jun 4, 2015: Piper PA-18-150, Mccarthy, AK, Minor damage. On June 4, 2015, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, the pilot-in-command of N985W, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, was struck by the spinning propeller while… ## Other investigations on N985W (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 ANC08LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA039), Mar 4, 2008: Piper PA-18-150 (N985W), Nikolai, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions. Contributing to the accident was an inadvertent stall/mush. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91319. 2.9 MB in all. - Record of Conversation with Park Ranger (item 1, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Park%20Ranger-Master.PDF - Photo 1 Left Wingtip N985W (item 2, .PDF, 788 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20Left%20Wingtip%20N985W-Master.PDF - N985W Left Wing (item 3, .PDF, 977 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=N985W%20Left%20Wing-Master.PDF - Right Wing, N53572 (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431638&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Right%20Wing,%20N53572-Master.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.