# NTSB ANC91LA150: Piper PA-22-160, N8143D, Stoney River, AK, September 21, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 20, 1991, 18:30 local (Sep 21, 1991, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Stoney River, AK
- Coordinates: 61.159923, -149.989013 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1599&lon=-149.9890&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 7, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5623
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA150
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5623/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA150

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER CLIMB. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE, HIS INADEQUATE TRAINING IN THAT MODEL AIRPLANE, HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, HIS INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, THE UNFAVORABLE WIND, AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - inadequate training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - aborted
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE UNLICENSED PILOT STATED THAT AFTER MAKING A LOW PASS OVER A REMOTE HUNTING STRIP, HE ADDED POWER TO MAKE A GO-AROUND.  THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE PITCHED UP STEEPLY, AND A CROSSWIND CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO TURN AND FLY INTO A CANYON. TO AVOID A STALL, HE REDUCED POWER AND PUSHED THE NOSE DOWN.  HE THEN ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT WHICH PUSHED THE AIRPLANE DOWN INTO THE TREES.  THE PILOT HAD PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE 2-3 DAYS PREVIOUSLY AND HAD ONLY ABOUT 6 HOURS IN THIS TYPE AIRPLANE.  HE REPORTED HAVING A TOTAL OF 500 FLIGHT HOURS, OF WHICH ONLY 5 WERE WITH AN INSTRUCTOR.  SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE AIRPLANE, TWO OF WHICH WERE NOT APPROVED.  THE PILOT SAID HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH SOME OF THE AIRPLANE'S UNUSUAL HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8143D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8143D-1993-12-09), registration cancelled 1993-12-09, S/N 225634 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-160
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-160) (registry code 7102214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-5634
- Airframe hours: 2368
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Daniel C. Herman
- Registered owner: Lecorchick, Joseph
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 1988, 28 hours before
- Departed: RDV, RED DEVIL, AK
- Destination: SXQ, SOLDOTNA, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 500 total, 6 in this make and model, 495 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19910920042469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910920042469A), Sep 20, 1991: Piper STCPA22, Stony River, AK, Substantial damage. Tried to land downwind short strip. Unable,began go around,turned into blind canyon,hit downdraft. Crashed in trees

## Other investigations on N8143D (2)

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 ANC79DAH09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DAH09), Sep 1, 1979: Piper PA-22S (N8143D), Eureka, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB SEA73DYG15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA73DYG15), Oct 13, 1972: Piper PA-22 (N8143D), Moses Lake, WA, 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.

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