Piper PA-16 accident near Fairbanks, AK
On July 9, 1993, a Piper PA-16 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, AK. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 9, 1993
- Place
- Fairbanks, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-16 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 64.900°N, 148.160°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X12736
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 8, 1993, at 2145 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-16 airplane, N5960H, registered to Jonathan L. Finkel of Fairbanks, Alaska, and operated by the Pilot in Command, collided with another airplane, N87568, a Piper PA 18 airplane, while in cruise flight and preparing to enter a right base for the Float Pond at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The accident occurred 8 miles east of the airport on the 100 degree radial of the Fairbanks VOR. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, last departed the Float Pond for a local fishing trip at an unknown location and was returning to the Float Pond. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the Pilot in Command and the passenger were fatally injured. The Piper PA-18 airplane, N87568, registered to and operated by the Pilot-in-Command, Ralph J. Stuhr, departed the housing subdivision's airstrip in North Pole, Alaska, between 2130 and 2145. A flight plan was filed but not activated. The destination was the Tanana Flats. According to Fairbanks Tower Tapes, N5960H called in and stated he was 5 miles to the east for landing on the float pond. The tower cleared him for entry into a right base. Shortly after acknowledging the call, N5960H called and stated he was being pushed up and collided with another airplane; he was coming apart and going down out of control. The airplane crashed approximately 10 miles to the east of Fairbanks International Airport. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT N5960H All flight contr
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER, AND THE ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF THE PA-16, N5960H. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SUNGLARE.
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Browse: Alaska · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
