# NTSB ANC96LA009: Piper PA-18-150, N2399S, Anchorage, AK, October 25, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 24, 1995, 17:45 local (Oct 25, 1995, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.160312, -149.98999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1603&lon=-149.9900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2784 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2784/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA009 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from mountainous/hilly terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, cruise - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor) - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was on a local flight and was returning to Lake Hood Seaplane Base. He stated that as he approached a local pass (named Powerline Pass), the airplane encountered a downdraft. He was unable to stop the descent and the airplane crashed into the terrain on the east side of the pass. Local area winds in the valley, 12 miles west of the accident site, were from the north at 5 knots. The pilot could not estimate the winds in the pass. ## Factual narrative On October 24, 1995, at 1745 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N2399S, registered to the pilot's father, and operated by the pilot, experienced a downdraft while attempting to fly through "Powerline Pass" which is located 12 miles east of Anchorage, and crashed into the east side of the pass. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Anchorage, Alaska, for a local flight. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The certificated airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on October 25, 1995, he stated that he was attempting to cross through the pass east to west. As he neared the pass, a severe downdraft started to push the airplane toward the ground. He was unable to recover and the airplane struck the ground. The pilot could not estimate the winds at the accident site. The Lake Hood Automatic Terminal Information System (ATIS)information showed that the airport winds were from the north at 5 knots. There were no weather or wind reporting facilities near the pass. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2399S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2399S), registered now, S/N 18-7909143 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7909143 - Airframe hours: 1800 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Geoff Stearn - Registered owner: George K. Stearn - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 30, 1995, 75 hours before - Departed: LHD, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 4,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 3,200 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °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 19951024037119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951024037119A), Oct 24, 1995: Piper PA18150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Unable recover from downdraft while flying through a pass. The float equipped plane crashed. Local winds were light 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.