# NTSB ANC84FA073: Piper PA-18-150, N82454, Platinum, AK, May 21, 1984 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 1984, 15:59 local (23:59 UTC) - Place: Platinum, AK - Coordinates: 58.999557, -161.689147 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.9996&lon=-161.6891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 4206 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84FA073 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4206/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84FA073 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor) - judgment - poor, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - self-induced pressure, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - crew/group coordination - inadequate, other person (contributing factor) - radio communications - inadequate (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - diverted attention, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, maneuvering - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - self-induced pressure, pilot in command (contributing factor) - judgment - poor, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - self-induced pressure, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - crew/group coordination - inadequate, other person (contributing factor) - radio communications - inadequate (contributing factor) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - diverted attention, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE HERRING SEASON WAS TO OPEN AT 1600 HRS. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, ABOUT 30 ACFT WERE CIRCLING IN LEFT TURNS OVER MERGING SCHOOLS OF HERRING WHILE THE PLTS & THEIR RESPECTIVE BOAT CREWS WERE AWAITING THE OPENING SIGNAL. THE ACFT WERE CIRCLING UNDER A LOW OVERCAST WHERE THE HERRING WERE MERGING NEAR A SHORELINE. TWO ACFT (A PIPER PA-18, N82454, & A CESSNA 182H, N4798U) COLLIDED WHILE THE PLTS WERE SPOTTING FISH. OF 6 WITNESSES WHO SAW THE COLLISION, 5 AGREED THAT THE CESSNA WAS CONVERGING FROM INSIDE THE RADIUS OF THE PIPER'S TURN. AFTER COLLIDING, BOTH ACFT IMPACTED ON A BLUFF NEAR THE SHORELINE. WITNESSES USED SUCH TERMS AS 'FRANTIC', 'CHAOTIC' & 'INSANE' WHEN THEY DESCRIBED THE FLT ACTIVITY OVER THE FISH AT THE OPENING OF THE HERRING SEASON WITH ITS LUCRATIVE REWARDS. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE HERRING SEASON WAS TO OPEN AT 1600 HRS. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, ABOUT 30 ACFT WERE CIRCLING IN LEFT TURNS OVER MERGING SCHOOLS OF HERRING WHILE THE PLTS & THEIR RESPECTIVE BOAT CREWS WERE AWAITING THE OPENING SIGNALS. THE ACFT WERE CIRCLING UNDER A LOW OVERCAST WHERE THE HERRING WERE MERGING NEAR A SHORELINE. TWO ACFT (A PIPER PA-18, N82554, & A CESSNA 182H, N4798U) COLLIDED WHILE THE PLTS WERE SPOTTING FISH. OF 6 WITNESSES WHO SAW THE COLLISION 5 AGREED THAT THE CESSNA WAS CONVERGING FROM INSIDE THE RADIUS OF THE PIPER'S TURN. AFTER COLLIDING, BOTH ACFT IMPACTED ON A BLUFF NEAR THE SHORELINE. WITNESSES USED SUCH TERMS AS 'FRANTIC', 'CHAOTIC' & 'INSANE' WHEN THEY DESCRIBED THE FLT ACTIVITY OVER THE FISH AT THE OPENING OF THE HERRING SEASON WITH ITS LUCRATIVE REWARDS. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N82454](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82454-1985-09-05), registration cancelled 1985-09-05, S/N 187809140 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7809140 - Airframe hours: 806 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Walter Arnold Hansen - Registered owner: Walter Arnold Hanson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 1984, 84 hours before - Departed: ASIGYUGPAK BAY, AK ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N4798U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4798U-1986-03-19), registration cancelled 1986-03-19, S/N 18051498 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180H - Registry model: [Cessna 180H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180h) (registry code 2072618) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18051498 - Airframe hours: 7588 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-470-R 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Gregory Stephen Curley - Registered owner: Gregory S. Curley - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: ASPIGYUGPAK SPI, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N82454; age 52; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,348 total, 98 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N4798U; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,329 total, 4,230 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 5 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast - Temperature: 48 °F ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19840521023112A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840521023112A), May 21, 1984: Piper PA18150, Platinum, AK, Destroyed. Aircraft collided with N4798U while circling in a group of aircraft in a fish spotting operation. - [Accident 19840521023111A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840521023111A), May 21, 1984: Cessna 180H, Platinum, AK, Destroyed. Aircraft collided with N82454 while circling in a group of aircraft in a fish spotting operation. ## Other investigations on N82454 (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 LAX80DVD13](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80DVD13), Mar 8, 1980: Piper PA-18 (N82454), San Rafael, CA, substantial damage 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.