- Date
- April 9, 1991, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Tatitlek, AK
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N6966DPiper PA-18-150N5193GCessna 305A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 29, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA reports
- 19910409009542A19910409009541A
- Case key
- 5480
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
Failure of both pilots to see-and-avoid each other (inadequate visual lookout). A factor related to the accident was: inadequate communication among all participating aircrews.
Failure of both pilots to see-and-avoid each other (inadequate visual lookout). A factor related to the accident was: inadequate communications among all participating aircrews.
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.
Analysis
According to witnesses, the plts of abt 50 fish spotting acft were flying in the vcnty of boulder bay, circling & waiting for opening of herring fishing. Each spotting plt was teamed with associated fishing vessels. The spotting plts were in communication with their respective fishing vessels, but not with each other. Subsequently, 2 of the acft (Piper PA-18, N6966D & Cessna 305A, N5193G) converged & collided. The PA-18 plt said that he had been established in level flt for abt 1 mi at 1200' & 85 to 88 KTS when the collision occurred. Just before impact, he noted the Cessna 305 converging from his left rear quarter, slightly low, & in a slight left bank. After impact, the Cessna went out of control & crashed on mountainous terrain. The PA-18 sustained damage to its fuselage & float/strut sys, but the plt was able to land successfully.
According to witnesses, the plts of abt 50 fish spotting acft were flying in the vcnty of boulder bay, circling & waiting for opening of herring fishing. Each spotting plt was teamed with associated fishing vessels. The spotting plts were in communication with their respective fishing vessels, but not with each other. Subsequently, 2 of the acft (Piper PA-18, N6966D & Cessna 305A, N5193G) converged & collided. The PA-18 plt said that he had been established in level flt for abt 1 mi at 1200' & 85 to 88 KTS when the collision occurred. Just before impact, he noted the Cessna 305 converging from his left rear quarter, slightly low, & in a slight left bank. After impact, the Cessna went out of control & crashed on mountainous terrain. The PA-18 sustained damage to its fuselage & float/strut sys, but the plt was able to land successfully.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N6966D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-5547
- Airframe hours
- 5,388
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- James P. Blue
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 26, 1991 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- Boulder Bay, AK
- Airport
- runway 30, 2,200 × 50 ft, gravel
- Registration
- N5193G
- Reported as
- Cessna 305A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 21997
- Engine
- Continental O-470-11, 213 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas M. Parker
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Boulder Bay, 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N6966D
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 3,800 total · 3,500 in this make and model · 3,800 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N5193G
- Age
- 56
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 36 °F
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.