# NTSB ANC94LA124: Piper PA-18, N13900, Glenallen, AK, August 28, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 1994, 22:00 local (Aug 28, 1994, 06:00 UTC) - Place: Glenallen, AK - Coordinates: 62.100463, -145.530181 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1005&lon=-145.5302&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2556 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC94LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2556/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC94LA124 ## Probable cause AIRSPEED NOT MAINTAINED. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE CRASHED WHILE MAKING A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION IN A VALLEY. ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGER, WHO SURVIVED FOR A SHORT TIME, THEY WERE MAKING A STEEP LEFT TURN AND THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND SPUN TO THE GROUND. HE DID NOT HAVE CONTROLS IN THE REAR AND STATED THAT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RECOVER PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE WINDS IN THE AREA WERE ESTIMATED AT 10 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 50 KNOTS. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 1994, at 2200 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N13900, registered to and operated by the pilot, crashed while turning to reverse direction in a valley near the confluence of Tyonne and Daisy Creeks. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed a lake in the area and the destination was Lake Hood, Anchorage, Alaska. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the take off area. However, there were lower ceilings and visibilities near the mountain passes. The accident occurred during the hours of dusk. The pilot and the passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed by post impact fire. There were no witnesses to the accident. However, there were hunters camped near the entrance of the valley in which the accident took place. These hunters rescued the passenger. He was found stooping outside of the airplane and his body was covered with burns. According to the rescuers, the passenger, another rated pilot and check airman for the Department of Interior, Office of Aircraft Services, stated they were making a steep turn to reverse direction and the airplane stalled and spun into the ground. He stated he felt he would have been able to recover the airplane if he would have had controls in the rear seat. The passenger passed away approximately 4 hours after the accident. According to the hunters in the area camped near the valley, the wind had been gusty all day and occasionally they would feel gusts estimated at 50 knots coming from the north and down the valley. According to Mr Ken Spearin, stepfather of the pilot, the pilot and passenger stopped to pick up a rifle that the passenger had left at camp earlier during a hunt. He stated they had very little gear on board and approximately 30 gallons of fuel. The pilot and passenger loaded the airplane, made their take off, and departed the area to the North. He stated that many of the passes had marginal weather and he did not follow the direction of the airplane closely after departure. Family members were not able to locate any airplane or pilot logbooks and believe the logbooks were destroyed in the post impact fire. Autopsies were conducted by Dr. Michael T. Propst, Forensic Pathologist, Department of Health and Social Services, Office of the Medical Examiner, 5500 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska, 99507. Toxicological information was provided by Dr. Propst and results were negative for the pilot and the passenger. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N13900](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13900-2014-09-05), registration cancelled 2014-09-05, S/N 18-8969, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8969 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Frary, Gwendolyn - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal - Destination: LHD, ANCHORAGE, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; commercial; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,100 total, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 360° at 10 knots, gusting 50 - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 19940827023629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940827023629A), Aug 27, 1994: Piper PA18150, Glenallen, AK, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Tried to reverse direction due to marginal weather in a pass. Stalled and spun in. Severe wind gusts in pass. 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.