Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kashwitna, Alaska 99687
Friday, April 23, 1993 17:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT/CERTIFIED HUNTING GUIDE, HAD 3 HRS SELF TAUGHT EXPERIENCE IN TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED PA18 AND 25 HOURS TOTAL SOLO TIME. THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT AS PILOT FOR BIG GAME SPOTTING. THE PILOT HAD NO PREVIOUS PREPARATION FOR HIGH TERRAIN FLYING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND VERTICALLY IMPAILED IN A SLOPING SNOWFIELD IN THE 5000 FT ELEVATION BOWL SURROUNDED BY 7000 FT TERRAIN. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE PILOT'S FOURTH FLIGHT IN THE PA-18, WITH 4.3 HOURS OF TOTAL SOLO TIME IN THE MAKE/MODEL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND HIS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION FOR HIGH MOUNTAIN TERRAIN BIG GAME OPERATIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HIGH TERRAIN CONDITION AND THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/23/1993
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone --
Event City KASHWITNA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99687
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 4
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 1800 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 150
Weather Observation Facility ID PAQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 248
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 18000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
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) 1150
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 23 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2250
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3741Z
NTSB Number ANC93FA054
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-150
Aircraft Serial Number 7497
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BRADLEY A. FINCH
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O.BOX 771712
Aircraft Owner City EAGLE RIVER
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99577
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FINCH, BRADLEY A.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 771712
Operator City EAGLE RIVER
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99577
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) Business
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 1630
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 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 --