# NTSB ANC91FA050: Piper PA-18-150, N6966D, Tatitlek, AK, April 9, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: April 9, 1991, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Tatitlek, AK - Coordinates: 60.880958, -146.64923 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8810&lon=-146.6492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 5480 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91FA050 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5480/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91FA050 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) 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. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - communications - inadequate (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, maneuvering - communications - inadequate (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: N6966D (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5547 - Airframe hours: 5388 - Engines: 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 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N5193G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5193G-2013-04-01), registration cancelled 2013-04-01, S/N 21997, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 305A - Registry model: [Cessna 305A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-305a) (registry code 2074002) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21997 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N6966D; age 32; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N5193G; age 56; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19910409009542A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910409009542A), Apr 9, 1991: Piper PA18150, Tatitlek, AK, Substantial damage. Circling for fish spotting was struck from rear and below by N5193G also fish spotting. Was able to land safely. - [Accident 19910409009541A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910409009541A), Apr 9, 1991: Cessna 305A, Tatitlek, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Circling for fish spotting collided from below and rear with other fish spotter N6966D. Impact severed tail. 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.