Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-18-150 near Willow, AK — 2010-05-01

Final reportANC10CA034
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Date
2010-05-01
Location
Willow, AK, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-18-150
Registration
N6891B
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot, with one passenger, was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, personal flight when the accident occurred. The purpose of the flight was to search for a missing friend in an area of remote tree and snow-covered terrain. The pilot said that while flying slow and maneuvering at 75-feet above the ground, his passenger saw the missing man lying on the ground near a snow-covered meadow. The pilot reported that as he started a right turn back to the meadow, he added engine power, and initiated a climb, but the right wing stalled. He said that he initiated a stall recovery, but that the airplane descended nose down into the trees. The pilot said that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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