# NTSB WPR12CA102: Piper PA-18-135, N1155C, Concrete, WA, February 12, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 11, 2012, 17:20 local (Feb 12, 2012, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Concrete, WA - Coordinates: 48.758888, -121.83361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7589&lon=-121.8336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 82869 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12CA102 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82869/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82869 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12CA102 ## Probable cause The pilot did not attain and maintain sufficient altitude to clear terrain while maneuvering. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while flying, he observed injured snowmobilers waving for help. After radioing for assistance, the pilot gathered emergency supplies from within the airplane and prepared to air-drop the supplies to the snowmobilers and configured the airplane for a slow approach over their location. After a successful drop, he applied full power and banked left to avoid terrain. The airplane encountered a downdraft and started to descend with the left wing low. Despite the pilot’s control inputs, the airplane continued to lose altitude until it impacted the glacier below. The airplane’s firewall and both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while flying, he observed injured snowmobilers waving for help. After radioing for assistance, the pilot gathered emergency supplies from within the airplane and prepared to air drop the supplies to the snowmobilers and configured the airplane for a slow approach over their location. After a successful drop, he applied full power and banked left to avoid terrain. The airplane encountered a downdraft and started to descend with the left wing low. Despite the pilot’s control inputs, the airplane continued to lose altitude until it impacted the glacier below. The airplane’s firewall and both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1155C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1155C-2012-05-02), registration cancelled 2012-05-02, S/N 18-2457, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (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: 18-2457 - Airframe hours: 3696 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kyle Martin - Registered owner: 208 Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2011, 0 hours before - Departed: WA90, Sudden Valley, WA - Destination: WA90, Sudden Valley, WA - Airport: 3W5, Mears Field Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 1,071 total, 750 in this make and model, 976 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: BLI, 27 nm away ## 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 20120212001729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120212001729A), Feb 12, 2012: Piper PA-18-135, Glacier, WA, Destroyed. The pilot was in the process of droping emergency supplies to some injured and stranded snowmobilers at about the 8300 ft. level on Mt. Baker. After the drop… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82869. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364191&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.