Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Watson Lake Canada
Thursday, October 22, 1998 12:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On October 22, 1998, about 1200 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a wheel equipped Piper J3C-65 airplane, N2033M, sustained substantial damage during a collision with terrain, about 90 miles southeast of Watson Lake, British Columbia, Canada. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight to MacKenzie, British Columbia, Canada, when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to the passenger, and operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot was not injured. The sole passenger received minor injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. A VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Watson Lake Airport about 1030 PDT. The pilot reported the accident to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. He also reported the accident to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on October 27, 1998. The pilot reported the weather conditions in the area had deteriorated, and he was flying about 50 feet above the ground. He decided to turn around and return to Watson Lake, B.C. During the turn, the pilot said the airplane stalled, and descended to the ground. The investigation of the accident is under the jurisdiction of the government of Canada. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Transportation Safety Board of Canada #4-3071 Number Five Road Richmond, British Columbia Canada, V6X 2T4 Telephone: (604) 666-0877

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/22/1998
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City WATSON LAKE
Event State --
Event Country CANADA
Zipcode of the event site 00000
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 10
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 Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
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 Not Reported
Lowest Ceiling Height 50
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 0
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 27 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1025
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2003 12:56PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2033M
NTSB Number ANC99WA010
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model J3C-65
Aircraft Series Identifier J3C-65
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 7690 VIRDA LEE CIR.
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99507
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 Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CYQH
Departure City
Departure State CD
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code CYZY
Destination City MACKENZIE
Destination State CD
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 30 2000 10:03PM
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 --