- Date
- May 10, 1985, 18:00 local (May 11, 1985, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Iliamna, AK
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N4621YPiper PA-18-150
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Case key
- 4491
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Analysis
The pilot in command stated he was flying in whiteout conditions when he observed an island pass by the right side of the airplane. He started a right turn and the right wing struck the lake ice surface. He stated he did not realize he was that low.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
In flight collision with terrain/water
Terrain condition - icyFactor
Preflight planning/preparation - inadequateFactor
Spatial disorientationFactor
Terrain condition - snow coveredFactor
In-flight planning/decision - inadequateCause
Weather condition - snowFactor
Weather evaluation - inadequateCause
Weather condition - whiteoutFactor
Vfr flight into imc - attemptedCause
Light condition - duskFactor
Judgment - poorFactor
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4621Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8942
- Airframe hours
- 1,742
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert Mieczkowski
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 1984
- Departed
- AKN · King Salmon, AK
- Destination
- ILI · Iliamna, AK
N4621YRegistration cancelled Nov 27, 2023 · Piper PA-18-150Airframe modelPiper PA-18-150Engine modelLycoming 0-320 series
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
- 33
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 1,369 total · 1,369 in this make and model · 1,369 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Dusk
- Visibility
- 1 statute miles