Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska 99721
Sunday, June 4, 1989 15:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED SHORLTY AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN A DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED WHICH THE PILOT COULD NOT FLY OUT OF. THE GRAVEL BAR USED FOR TAKEOFF WAS SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS AND SUBJECTED TO MANY VARIABLES IN WIND. THE PILOT COULD NOT EXPLAIN HOW THE ACFT ENDED UP HEADING IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO TAKEOFF HEADING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY COMPENSATE FOR DOWNDRAFTS ENCOUNTERED AFTER DEPARTING A GRAVEL BAR THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/4/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone --
Event City ANAKTUVUK PASS
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99721
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
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 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
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 Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 6000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 334
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 4 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2258
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38713
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:44PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3148M
NTSB Number ANC89LA086
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12
Aircraft Serial Number 12-1835
Certified Max Gross Weight 1935
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 Mar 1 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 81
Airframe Hours 3637
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KEITH A. ECHELMEYER
Aircraft Owner Street Address GEO. INSTITUTE, UNIV. OF AK.
Aircraft Owner City FAIRBANKS
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99775
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1529
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BET
Destination City BETTLES
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --