ANC97LA100

The air taxi pilot and passenger were approaching a mountain ridge from below. Both occupants described conditions favoring a downslope wind and turbulence at the ridge. The pilot attempted to turn when he realized they would not clear the ridge, but the airplane descended and impacted terrain. The airplane was estimated to weigh 1,827 pounds at the time of the last takeoff. The maximum takeoff weight is 1,760 pounds. The elevation at the accident site was 4,500 feet msl.

On July 8, 1997, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N3952Z, sustained substantial damage when it struck a ridge about 15 nautical miles southeast of Cantwell, Alaska, at position 63-13.89 north latitude, 148-34.88 west longitude. The commercial certificated pilot and single passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated by Ray H. Atkins of Cantwell, Alaska, doing business as Ray Atkins, Registered Guide. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 135 in visual meteorological conditions.

The passenger stated to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector during an interview, that the flight was a return leg to Cantwell from Soule lake, and the route of flight was chosen to view mountainous terrain and wildlife. The airplane was flown into a canyon, and while attempting to climb over a ridge, struck terrain. The passenger stated to the NTSB investigator that the airplane was paralleling a ridge on the right side, and climbing to cross a ridge which was ahead of them. When it appeared that the airplane would not clear the ridge, the pilot turned the airplane left and attempted to accelerate. The occupants said it felt as if the plane fell, and then struck the ground hard. It rolled down the mountainside, coming to rest at 4,500 feet msl. The passenger stated that while awaiting rescue, the pilot said several times, " I should have been higher. I was too low. I turned and the downdraft got us."

The pilot wrote in his pilot/operator report that the airplane was climbing at 70 miles per hour, along the right side of a valley. He was heading northeast, and attempting to clear a ridge. He stated that he turned the airplane to the left, away from the ridge. The airspeed dropped to zero, he applied power, and lowered the airplane's nose to gain airspeed. The pilot said the left float caught the ground and pulled the left wing into the hillside.

The pilot estimated prevailing winds were from the northeast at thirty miles per hour. The passenger said that the winds at the crash site were light from the northeast. This location was at a lower elevation, and downwind of the pass which they had been attempting to clear.

The injured pilot was extracted from the wreckage by the passenger. He directed the passenger to turn off the airplane electrical master switch, and activate the Emergency Locator Transmitter. The survivors were located at 1600. At 1730 a helicopter attempted to land but was unable due to the steep terrain. At 2000 the survivors were recovered via hoist by an Alaska Air National Guard helicopter and transported to Anchorage.

The empty weight of the airplane is 1,261 pounds according to the loading schedule provided by the pilot. The pilot estimated the fuel on board at the last takeoff to be eighteen gallons of 100 low lead aviation gasoline. His FAA medical certificate dated June 6, 1997, states the pilot weighed 215 pounds. The passenger estimates his weight to be 220 pounds. Baggage estimated by the pilot and passenger was seven pounds. Eight quarts of oil are estimated to be 16 pounds. The estimated total weight at the time of the last takeoff is 1,827 pounds. The maximum allowable takeoff weight is 1,760 pounds.