- Date
- April 28, 1991, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Hancock Village, NY
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N102LWPiper PA-18-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 27, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910428012909A
- Case key
- 36791
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of aircraft control and subsequent collision with trees after the pilot became physically incapacitated.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot and pilot rated passenger were on a local flight. The passenger stated after the accident that while approaching the airport, the pilot did not turn toward the runway and began descending into the trees. The passenger added 1/2 power but the pilot reduced the power. The passenger then attempted to gain control using the control stick, however, it was 'not free' and the airplane struck trees. Post mortem examination of the pilot revealed evidence of coronary arteriosclerosis.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N102LW
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-4383
- Airframe hours
- 1,894
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A1A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Lee Wulff
- Registered owner
- Lee Wulff
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 23, 1991 · 5 hours before
- Airport
- 4N8 · White Brich
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 86
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 6,118 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.