# NTSB ANC22LA004: Gregg Origer PA-18 Replica, N368G, Willow, AK, October 24, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 23, 2021, 18:25 local (Oct 24, 2021, 02:25 UTC) - Place: Willow, AK - Coordinates: 61.718812, -150.05409 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7188&lon=-150.0541&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA, Lycoming - NTSB case key (mKey): 104158 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104158/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104158 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22LA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering for landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gregg Origer PA-18 REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05637LZ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gregg Origer PA-18 REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05637LZ), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gregg Origer PA-18 REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05637LZ), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Gregg Origer PA-18 REPLICA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05637LZ), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing his experimental, amateur-built airplane at a private airport when the airplane impacted terrain in a nose-down, near-vertical attitude short of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. No significant tree impacts were observed on the airframe. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering for landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. At the pilot’s request, numerous design changes were incorporated into the wings, ailerons, and flaps of the accident airplane. The manufacturer of the kit and the designer of the flaps stated that they told the pilot and builder that the design changes were not recommended; however, the kit was built to the pilot’s specifications. It is likely that the design changes affected the stall characteristic of the airplane; however, the role those changes played in the accident sequence could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 2021, about 1825 Alaska daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built PA-18 Replica airplane, N368G, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Willow, Alaska. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed from Anderson Lake Airport, Wasilla, Alaska, and was returning to Minuteman Strip Airport (AK68), Willow, when the accident occurred. According to the passenger, while on final approach to the runway, the airplane impacted something, which she presumed was a tree, at the same time the tail became “squirrely.” She could not remember the exact order of the events. The next thing she remembered was being slumped over after the airplane had come to rest. A witness located about .3 nautical miles to the southeast of AK68 observed the airplane fly over his location and reported that the engine appeared to be at a low power setting, as it was fairly quiet, which he thought was unusual. The airplane subsequently made a turn and disappeared from view. He then heard an increase in engine power followed by the sound of an impact. He stated that he did not hear any unusual sounds from the airplane and that the engine appeared to be operating normally. The airplane impacted in a near-vertical attitude at an elevation of about 274 ft, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. All major components of the airplane were located at the main accident site. No significant tree impacts were observed on the airframe. The flaps were found in the fully extended position. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to the owner of the company that manufactured the kit from which the accident airplane was built, the accident pilot requested numerous design changes into the wings, ailerons, and flaps. The owner of the company stated that he was not comfortable with and recommended against some of these changes; however, the kit was manufactured to the pilot’s specifications. The designer of the wing flaps installed on the airplane stated that he remembered working with the pilot on his build request and saw several “red flags.” He stated that too many changes were being made to the design without the knowledge of how these changes would affect each other. He strongly recommended against the requested changes. A note found in the airplane’s maintenance records described the stall characteristics of the airplane and stated in part: “Stalls - The nose drops like a rock.” The note went on to say: “Another anomaly I have seen is the big flaps kind of shadow the rudder when at slow speeds. So I suggest retract flaps on stall recoveries. Obviously this will be at altitude for stall/slow flight maneuvers.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N368G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N368G-2025-01-04), registration cancelled 2025-01-04, S/N 1801 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GREGG ORIGER PA-18 REPLICA - Registry model: [Gregg Origer PA-18 REPLICA](https://openairdocs.org/model/gregg-origer-pa-18-replica) (registry code 05637LZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1801 - Engines: Superior Lycoming O-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Wasilla, AK - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: AK68, Minuteman Strip, runway 05, 1,200 × 40 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: fatal; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.12 inHg - Observed at: PAWS, 17 nm away - METAR: PAWS 240256Z AUTO 05007KT 10SM CLR 07/M02 A2912 RMK AO2 SLP866 T00671022 51016 ## 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 20211023017699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211023017699A), Oct 23, 2021: Gregg Origer PA-18 REPLICA, Willow, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. The pilot was attempting to land at his private airstrip while carrying a passenger. The pilot chose to attempt a landing on the shorter of the 2 runways,… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104158. 5.4 MB in all. - Witness statement - passenger (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12945579&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Sarah%20Origer%20dbb-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13031343&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wintess%20Statments_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination summary (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15351014&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC22LA004%20Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary%20-%20dms-Rel.pdf - Electronic devices email report (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 154 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13644749&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Electronics%20Email%20Report-Rel.pdf - Electronic devices email report - attachment (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13645379&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Electronic%20Devices%20Email%20Report%20Attachment-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 279 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13649178&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form%20DMS_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13031458&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.