Piper PA-18 accident near Gulkana, AK

On September 5, 1994, a Piper PA-18 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Gulkana, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.

Date

September 5, 1994

Place

Gulkana, AK

Aircraft

Piper PA-18 · Airplane

Injuries

1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Substantial

Position

62.100°N, 145.529°W

NTSB ID

20001206X02158

NTSB summary

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 4, 1994, at 1705 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7867D, registered to and operated by the pilot, crashed near the headwaters of the Black River, which is located 39 nautical miles west of Gulkana, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91 for the purposes of hunting, last departed Fire Lake in Eagle River, Alaska, and the destination was a field site near the accident site. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot was fatally injured and his passenger received serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Logbooks for the pilot were not located. However, according to records at Federal Aviation Administration, Airman Certification, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the pilot had 1500 hours total flight time listed on his last medical application, which was dated May 1, 1992. The records show that the May 1, 1992 application, for a class 3 medical certificate, was the latest medical certificate issued to the pilot. The accident occurred on September 4, 1994, 28 months after the medical certificate's issue. According to the Federal Aviation Regulations, a class 3 medical certificate expires on the last day of the 24 month in which the medical examination was completed. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION No logbooks for the aircraft were located. According to Mel Wick, an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic who had worked on the airplane, the airplane received an annual inspection on September 14, 1993. He did not know the total time of the airframe

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TERRAIN.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.