Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Coldfoot, Alaska 99701
Wednesday, August 5, 1987 17:35 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT HAD UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO FLY THROUGH ATIGUN PASS EARLIER IN THE DAY. EVEN THOUGH THE PASS WAS CLOSED DUE TO FOG AND CLOUD COVER, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FLY THROUGH THE PASS A SECOND TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WRECKAGE WAS LOCATEDIN ATIGUN PASS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OVER GROSS WEIGHT AND EXCEEDED THE REAR CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT. THE PILOT WAS NOT WEARING REQUIRED CORRECTIVE LENSES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD BEEN ADVISED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL THAT HE HAD ARTERIAL DISEASE AND OPEN HEART SURGERY WAS RECOMMENDED. THE PILOT DID NOT PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION TO THE AME WHEN OBTAINING HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/5/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1735
Event Time Zone --
Event City COLDFOOT
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99701
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 8
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 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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
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 Light
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 --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1559
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 5 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2215
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 34964
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:41PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7479D
NTSB Number ANC87FA115
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
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18A
Aircraft Serial Number 18-5814
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
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 JESS MARION WASSOM
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1313
Aircraft Owner City SEWARD
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99664
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JESS M. WASSOM
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 1313
Operator City SEWARD
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99664
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 PPC
Departure City PROSPECT CREEK
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1615
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City HULA HULA RIVER
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 --