Sanona Creek Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sanona Creek, Alaska 99588
Thursday, September 2, 1993 10:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED TO FLY OVER THE AIRSTRIP FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT 200-300 FT AGL, THEN BEGIN A TURN TO THE LEFT AS A BASE TURN TO THE WEST THRESHOLD OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE TURN CONTINUED INTO A STEEP SPIRAL TURN, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NEAR-VERTICAL ANGLE. THE WIND WAS FROM THE WEST AT ABOUT 30 MPH. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH 32X15 BALLOON TUNDRA TIRES. THERE IS NO DATA RELATING TO AN EVALUATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING ENVELOPE WITH THESE TIRES INSTALLED. AIRPLANE HAD NO REGISTRATION, FLIGHT MANUAL, WEIGHT AND BALANCE RECORD, NOR FORM 337'S FOR THE COMPLETE REBUILD AFTER THE AIRPLANE WAS REPORTED DESTROYED IN 1989. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE INSUFFICIENT STC OR FAA FIELD APPROVAL DOCUMENTS FOR MODIFICATIONS. THE AIRPLANE WAS AT LEAST 117 LBS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT. SHOULDER HARNESSES NOT INSTALLED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED DURING A DOWNWIND TURN FOR LANDING. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OVERWEIGHT CONDITION OF THE AIRPLANE, AND FAILURE TO ASSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE COMPLIED WITH ALL APPLICABLE AIRWORTHINESS REGULATIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/2/1993
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone --
Event City SANONA CREEK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99588
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SANONA CREEK AIRSTRIP
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 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 80
Airport Elevation 2900
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 1000
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) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 30
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) 2800
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) 1154
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 2 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:37PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4713A
NTSB Number ANC93FA167
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-18A-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18A-150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-4931
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 Aug 5 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3200
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NOT REGISTERED
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GARFIELD, WADE E.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 825 BRAIR, P. O. BOX 875121
Operator City WASILLA
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99687
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) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City GLACIER LODGE
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City EUREKA
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:37PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 800
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --