Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chugiak, Alaska 99567
Monday, May 8, 1995 9:05 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER DEPARTING ON A ROUND-ROBIN, THE PILOT CONTACTED THE LOCAL AUTOMATED FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (AFSS) AND AIR-FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE AFSS REQUESTED A PILOT REPORT ABOUT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED A SMOOTH RIDE. ABOUT ELEVEN MILES NORTH OF THE LAST RADIO CONTACT POINT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PROPELLER RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. THE ENGINE RECEIVED EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE. NO ENGINE MALFUNCTION WAS NOTED DURING A POSTACCIDENT ENGINE EXAMINATION. AN AIRMET WAS IN EFFECT WHICH STATED 'COOK INLET AND SUSITNA VALLEY...OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURBULENCE BELOW 9,000 FEET WITH ISOLATED SEVERE WITHIN 5,000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, ESPECIALLY THROUGH CHANNELED TERRAIN. CONTINUING BEYOND 1200.' SEARCH AIRCRAFT ALSO ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING AND AN ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/8/1995
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 905
Event Time Zone --
Event City CHUGIAK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99567
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 5
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 852 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID MRI
Elevation of weather observation facility 137
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 7000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1000
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 12 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:15PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N825PK
NTSB Number ANC95FA073
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18
Aircraft Serial Number 18-8789
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 Apr 21 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2365
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KUST ENTERPRISES AND TRIO INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 600 S. STATE ST. SUITE 115
Aircraft Owner City BELLINGHAM
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98225
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PETER J. KUST
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 600 SOUTH STATE ST., SUITE 115
Operator City BELLINGHAM
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98225
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 MRI
Departure City ANCHORAGE
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 848
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
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 --