# NTSB ANC93LA040: Piper PA-22, N67559, Iliamna, AK, March 7, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 7, 1993, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Iliamna, AK
- Coordinates: 59.849693, -154.560195 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8497&lon=-154.5602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5867
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA040
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5867/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA040

## Probable cause

THE PILOT IN COMMANDS ATTEMPT TO CONDUCT A VISUAL FLIGHT DURING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE EMERGENCY 180 DEGREE TURN MANEUVER TO REVERSE DIRECTION.  FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE SNOW AND WHITEOUT CONDITION AND THE PILOT IN COMMANDS LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN PERFORMING 180 TURNS SOLELY BY REFERENCE TO THE PLANE'S BASIC COCKPIT INSTRUMENTATION.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - weather condition - snow (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - whiteout (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) RESTRICTED PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT HE DEPARTED THE AIRPORT IN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITH THE INTENT OF MAINTAINING VISUAL REFERENCE WITH THE GROUND BY RELYING ON PROMINENT GROUND FEATURES.  ONCE ALOFT, HE REALIZED THAT THERE WERE NO PROMINENT GROUND REFERENCE FEATURES ALONG THE SHORELINE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FLEW INTO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS AND BECAME ENGROSSED IN TRYING TO FIND THE GROUND RATHER THAN FLYING THE AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE BECAME SPATIALLY DISORIENTED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM A 180 DEGREE TURN MANEUVER AND THAT THE AIRPLANE CRASHED IN AN INVERTED ATTITUDE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N67559](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67559-1998-05-27), registration cancelled 1998-05-27, S/N 226480 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 226480
- Airframe hours: 2725
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Baumgartner, Robert G.
- Registered owner: Chena Valley Bahai Assembly
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 3, 1992, 170 hours before
- Destination: DLG, DILLINGHAM, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 225 total, 150 in this make and model, 225 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 100° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ILI, 9 nm away

## 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 19930307004539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930307004539A), Mar 7, 1993: Piper PA22150, Iliamna, AK, Destroyed. Departed on special VFR IMC. Flew into snow area and whiteout conditions. Lost control. Crashed inverted.

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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