- Date
- May 5, 2016, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- McCarthy, AK
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N5884DPiper PA 18-150
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160505013969A
- Case key
- 93140
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 failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall from which he could not recover.
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 pilot stated that while maneuvering low-level in an attempt to locate a suitable gravel bar for an off-airport landing, a wind gust lifted the right wing. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall from which he was unable to recover before impacting terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to thewings and fuselage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that while maneuvering low-level in an attempt to locate a suitable gravel bar for an off-airport landing, a wind gust lifted the right wing. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall from which he was unable to recover before impacting terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5884D
- Reported as
- Piper PA 18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-5308
- Built
- 1956
- Airframe hours
- 4,093
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-320 SERIES, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mcmahan Johnny W
- Registered owner
- Mcmahan Johnny W
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 5, 2015
- Departed
- McCarthy, AK
- Destination
- McCarthy, AK
- Airport
- 15Z · Mccarthy
- Equipment
- None
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
- 36
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 9, 2014
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 5,750 total · 4,078 in this make and model · 5,700 as pilot in command · 76 in the last 90 days · 46 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Turbulence
- Light
- Observed at
- PAGK, 91 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 15, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 835 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.