- Date
- August 5, 1987, 17:35 local (Aug 6, 1987, 01:35 UTC)
- Place
- Coldfoot, AK
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7479DPiper PA-18A
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 24, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Case key
- 4783
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 had unsuccessfully attempted to fly through atigun pass earlier in the day. Even though the pass was closed due to fog and cloud cover, the pilot attempted to fly through the pass a second time. The aircraft wreckage was locatedin atigun pass. The aircraft was over gross weight and exceeded the rear center of gravity limit. The pilot was not wearing required corrective lenses at the time of the accident. The pilot had been advised by medical personnel that he had arterial disease and open heart surgery was recommended. The pilot did not provide this information to the AME when obtaining his medical certificate.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7479D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-5814
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Jess M. Wassom
- Registered owner
- Jess Marion Wassom
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- PPC · Prospect Creek, AK
- Destination
- Hula Hula River, AK
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
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 1,100 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day