Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Frenchglen, Oregon 97736
Wednesday, March 2, 1994 13:16 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE PA-18 WAS MANEUVERING AT ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND NEAR A DIRT/GRAVEL ROAD WHICH SHE INTENDED TO USE AS A LANDING SITE. AFTER TURNING IN A DIRECTION SUCH THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXPERIENCING A DIRECT TAILWIND OF 15 TO 20 KNOTS, THE PILOT BEGAN A CLIMBING TURN. THE DIRECT TAILWIND INCREASED THE AIRCRAFT'S GROUND SPEED, CREATING THE ILLUSION THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S AIRSPEED HAD INCREASED AS WELL. DURING THE CLIMBING TURN, THE PILOT ALLOWED HER AIRSPEED TO DECREASE TO A POINT WHERE THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. HER REMEDIAL ACTION WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO RECOVER, AND THE AIRCRAFT SPUN INTO THE TERRAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM AIRSPEED (VS). THE TAILWIND WAS A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/2/1994
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1316
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City FRENCHGLEN
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97736
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 610
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 2 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:52AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N82951
NTSB Number SEA94FA071
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7909035
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SCHROEDER, SUSAN P. & NED R.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3431 16TH ST.
Aircraft Owner City LEWISTON
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83501
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code BNO
Departure City BURNS
Departure State OR
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --