Sheep Mountain Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sheep Mountain, Alaska
Saturday, July 11, 1987 19:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS TOOK OFF IN A TWO PLACE PIPER PA-18 FROM A GLACIER AFTER DOING REPAIR WORK ON AN AIRCRAFT THAT HAD CRASHED THERE EARLIER. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DETERIORATING AS THEY APPROACHED THEIR DESTINATION AIRSTRIP LOCATED IN A NEARBY MOUNTAIN PASS. THE CEILING WAS ESTIMATED AT 200 FEET AGL, AND VISIBILITY AS BETWEEN 1/2 AND 3 MILES. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE FELT INTIMIDATED BY THE LOW CLOUDS AND RISING TERRAIN SURROUNDING THE AIRSTRIP AND THAT HE INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRCRAFT WHILE TURNING FROM DOWNWIND TO BASE LEG.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/11/1987
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1945
Event Time Zone --
Event City SHEEP MOUNTAIN
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHEEP MOUNTAIN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SMU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 2750
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
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 200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 619
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 11 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33757
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:34PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Unknown
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N159T
NTSB Number ANC87FA095
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18
Aircraft Serial Number 18-2273
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 Jul 15 1986 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CUMIN L. WILES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2815 E. 20TH
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99508
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City MATANUSKA GAL
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1855
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SMU
Destination City SHEEP MT. LODGE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
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 22
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --