Merle K Smith Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cordova, Alaska 99574
Wednesday, July 13, 2011 9:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The solo private pilot was practicing touch-and-go takeoff and landings at his home airport. He reported that during the third landing, his approach was not stable, and he should have gone around. As he extended his approach down the runway, the airplane stalled, the left wing dropped, and the airplane came to rest in the brush on the left side of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing when it impacted the ground. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during approach, resulting in an aerodynamic stall, and collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/13/2011
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone --
Event City Cordova
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99574
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 603000N
Event Location Longitude 1453000W
Event Location Airport Merle K Smith
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PACV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 30
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28789
NTSB Notification Source FAA Anchorage, ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 18 2011 2:08PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9255D
NTSB Number ANC11CA064
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18A 150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-6548
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 28 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5043
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name Lynn Mallory
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Cordova
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99574
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Lynn Mallory
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Cordova
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99574
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 PACV
Departure City Cordova
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PACV
Destination City Cordova
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 18 2011 2:08PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 16
Runway Length 1899
Runway Width 30
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --