# NTSB ANC95FA095: Piper PA-18, N8324, Nulato, AK, July 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 5, 1995, 21:20 local (Jul 6, 1995, 05:20 UTC) - Place: Nulato, AK - Coordinates: 64.720932, -158.110733 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7209&lon=-158.1107&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2588 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95FA095 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2588/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95FA095 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND CLEARANCE (ALTITUDE) ABOVE THE WATER, WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO ALLOW A PASSENGER TO ACCOMPANY THE FLIGHT WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - water - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - seat belt - unavailable, passenger (contributing factor) - improper decision, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT WAS FLYING LOW ALONG THE YUKON RIVER WHEN HE ELECTED TO MANEUVER AT LOW ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WATER WHEN THE PILOT LOST AIRSPEED DURING A TURN. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FATALLY INJURED PASSENGER HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE EXTENDED BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT, WHICH WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH EITHER A SEAT OR SEAT RESTRAINT SYSTEM. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 5, 1995, approximately 2120 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 floatplane, N8324, sustained substantial damage when it collided with water while maneuvering in the vicinity of Nulato, Alaska. The airline transport pilot and one of his passengers were seriously injured. A second passenger riding in the extended baggage compartment was fatally injured. No flight plan was filed for the flight, which was operating under 14 CFR 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the scene of the accident. There was no fire and no report of the ELT actuating. Witnesses described the aircraft flying upstream along the Yukon river at low altitude before pulling up in a steep turn, reversing course, and descending steeply into the river. The pilot stated that upon reaching Nulato, he began a climbing left turn to overfly the runway and village, then decided to make an 180 degree turn. He said he could not "say for certain if he had a power loss, but had never before noted any losses in turns prior to this flight. In the turn, it seemed [the] left wing lost lift and could not recover." The pilot and one passenger escaped from the wreckage and were recovered by witnesses. The aircraft floated inverted by its floats after colliding with the water surface. Due to strong current, the airplane floated downstream into a barge. The barge crew attempted to recover the airplane; eventually a bulldozer was used to pull the airplane to shore. Once the airplane was partially out of the water, the fatally injured passenger was removed from the aircraft. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was equipped with two tandem seats. No evidence of a seat or seat restraints was found in the extended baggage compartment. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The aircraft was recovered from the Yukon River and was on shore at Nulato when investigators arrived. The leading edge of the right wing was compressed aft toward the main spar along the entire length of the wing. The left wing showed similar compressing, and both wing struts were bent about 60-70 degrees at about their midpoint. The left wing also exhibited additional crushing over its surface. The fuselage was bent about 40 degrees to the left, aft of the left wing attachment point. The rudder and vertical fin were crushed above their midspan. The right elevator and horizontal stabilizer were bent near the tip. The engine was shifted aft against the firewall, and the nose cowling bowl was hydroformed and shredded around the front cylinders. The right float was bent upwards about 45 degrees, forward of the front spreader bar. The left float was separated into two pieces, with the separation forward of the front spreader bar. One propeller blade showed no apparent damage; the other blade was curled aft about 40 degrees, about a foot from the blade tip. Control continuity of aileron, rudder, and elevator was established during on scene investigation. Trim was found to be about 1.5 turns from full nose down. Fuel was found in the right wing tank. The fuel selector was on the right tank, with a placard "30.5 gallons" noted by the selector. The engine was inspected. Valve train continuity was established. Spark plugs were wet with water. The left magneto sparked. No contaminants were noted in the oil screen or the carburetor screen. No pre-crash mechanical discrepancies were noted. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Toxicological testing of the pilot was not conducted. No autopsy was performed on the fatally injured passenger. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The wreckage was released to the Nulato Village Public Safety Officer on July 7, 1995 upon completion of the on-scene investigation at Nulato. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8324](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8324), registered now, S/N 18-2377, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18 105](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-105) (registry code 7101809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2377 - Airframe hours: 3687 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jay Jonathon Yeager - Registered owner: Norman C. Yaeger - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 24, 1995, 19 hours before - Departed: FISH CAMP, AK - Destination: AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 5,289 total, 300 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 5 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 19950705016549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950705016549A), Jul 5, 1995: Piper PA18105, Nulato, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Flying low over river. Stalled on pullup 180 to reverse course. Victim in baggage area. Gross wt and CG factors. ## Other investigations on N8324 (1) 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 ANC79FA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79FA034), Jan 21, 1979: Piper PA-18 (N8324), Galena, AK, 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. --- 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.