Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Beaver, Alaska 99724
Thursday, November 12, 1992 12:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PURPOSE OF FLIGHT WAS TO COUNT MOOSE. THE PILOT HAD REPORTED TO ANOTHER SURVEY PILOT, WHO WAS WORKING IN AN AREA NEARBY AND JUST OVER THE RIDGE, THAT HIS ASSIGNED AREA HAD SOME FOG IN THE UPPER ELEVATIONS, BUT THAT IT WAS WORKABLE. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY ADVISED THAT THE STANDARD SEARCH HAD BEEN COMPLETED, AND THAT HE WAS COMMENCING THE INTENSIVE SEARCH PATTERN. THERE WAS NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE FLIGHT. DURING THE INTENSIVE SEARCH, WHICH TAKES 20-30 MIN TO COMPLETE, A SERIES OF SLIGHTLY OVERLAPPING CIRCLES OR OVALS ARE FLOWN AT 200-300 FT AGL, AT 60 TO 70 MPH, WITH ONE NOTCH (15 DEG) OF FLAPS. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED SNOW COVERED TUNDRA NOSE FIRST AT AN ANGLE OF APPROX 40 DEG. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROX 300 LBS OVER MAX CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL AT AN ALTITUDE INADEQUATE TO AFFECT A RECOVERY. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE OVERWEIGHT AIRPLANE, AND THE SNOW COVERED MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/12/1992
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City BEAVER
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99724
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 11
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 Full
Investigator's weather source Witness
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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) 1016
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 13 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 315
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 51491
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9124D
NTSB Number ANC93GA020
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Public Use
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
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 18-6503
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 Nov 1 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 41
Airframe Hours 5083
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOE A. FIRMIN
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 288
Aircraft Owner City FORT YUKON
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99740
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOE A. FIRMIN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 288
Operator City FORT YUKON
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99740
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FYU
Departure City FORT YUKON
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 922
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FAI
Destination City FAIRBANKS
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 22 2001 3:26PM
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 --