Pilot Debrief

GREGG ORIGER PA-18 REPLICA near Willow, AK — 2021-10-24

Final reportANC22LA004
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Date
2021-10-24
Location
Willow, AK, USA
Airport
AK68
Aircraft
GREGG ORIGER PA-18 REPLICA
Registration
N368G
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering for landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was landing his experimental, amateur-built airplane at a private airport when the airplane impacted terrain in a nose-down, near-vertical attitude short of the runway. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. No significant tree impacts were observed on the airframe. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering for landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. At the pilot’s request, numerous design changes were incorporated into the wings, ailerons, and flaps of the accident airplane. The manufacturer of the kit and the designer of the flaps stated that they told the pilot and builder that the design changes were not recommended; however, the kit was built to the pilot’s specifications. It is likely that the design changes affected the stall characteristic of the airplane; however, the role those changes played in the accident sequence could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have reconsidered design changes that affected stall characteristics.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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