Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Delta Junction, Alaska 99737
Thursday, April 29, 1993 8:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE REAR SEAT PAX, A COMMERCIALLY-RATED PILOT, STATED THAT WHILE FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE UP INTO A CANYON, HE TOLD THE FRONT SEAT PILOT TO TURN RIGHT & EXIT THE CANYON. THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED; THEN THE WINGS ROCKED, FOLLOWED BY AN ABRUPT & STEEP LEFT TURN, THEN IMPACT. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE 4,500-FT LEVEL OF A MOUNTAINSIDE, ABOUT 200 FT BELOW THE TOP. THE SLOPE WAS APRX 25-30 DEG. THE PAX ALSO STATED THAT JUST BEFORE THE WINGS ROCKED, THE PILOT WAS UP AGAINST THE LEFT FORWARD SIDE OF THE COCKPIT, AND SAID '...I CAN'T HELP IT, I CAN'T HELP IT.'

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A LOSS OF CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/29/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone --
Event City DELTA JUNCTION
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99737
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
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) 60
Weather Observation Facility ID BIG
Elevation of weather observation facility 1277
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 28
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 805
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 30 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 750
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 N2578P
NTSB Number ANC93LA055
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
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18
Aircraft Serial Number 4320
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
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 WOLFE, FREDRICK M.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3003 KERRY CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99504
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WOLFE, FREDRICK M.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 3003 KERRY CIRCLE
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99504
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code D66
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code D66
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 --