Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Nikiski, Alaska 99635
Thursday, November 27, 2014 11:17 AKS

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On November 27, 2014, about 1117 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N9720P, collided with terrain after a total loss of engine power while maneuvering for an off-airport landing near Nikiski, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot sustained serious injuries and the sole passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was registered to Summit Leasing LLC and operated by Alaska West Air, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand commercial air taxi flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the entire flight, and a company flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Kenai, Alaska, approximately 1030. In a statement provided to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot stated that prior to the accident, he flew around approximately 20 to 30 minutes surveying the area for possible landing sites. During this time, he applied carburetor heat three or four times to check for carburetor ice. After a landing site had been selected, the pre-landing checklist was completed, and the carburetor heat was placed in the off position. On short final to an off-airport site situated atop hilly terrain, all engine power was lost. The pilot said he then switched fuel tanks and turned the carburetor heat back on, but the engine would not restart. The airplane subsequently collided with an area of rising terrain just short of the intended landing site, sustaining substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Another company pilot who landed at the same location only minutes before the accident aircraft approached, stated that during the descent, his aircraft had accumulated carburetor ice during the approach. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-360 series engine. A detailed engine examination is pending.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/27/2014
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1117
Event Time Zone --
Event City Nikiski
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99635
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 605235N
Event Location Longitude 1520507W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1953 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 125
Weather Observation Facility ID PAEN
Elevation of weather observation facility 92
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.23
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR PAEN 271953Z 01003KT 10SM CLR M12/M13 A3023
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA ANM ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 16 2014 5:49PM
User who most recently changed record johc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9720P
NTSB Number ANC15LA005
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA 18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7509137
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 4 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 80
Airframe Hours 7484
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name SUMMIT LEASING LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City KENAI
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 996111508
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Alaska West Air, INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Nikiski
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99635
Operator Code LCWC
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ENA
Departure City Kenai
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone AKS
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Nikiski
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 16 2014 5:57PM
User who most recently changed record johc
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --