Piper PA-18 accident near Circle, AK
On February 7, 1997, a Piper PA-18 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Circle, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- February 7, 1997
- Place
- Circle, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 65.790°N, 144.200°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X07367
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 7, 1997, about 1000 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Piper PA-18, N121BB, collided with terrain at Circle, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. On February 14, 1997, at 1957, friends and family of the pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) the pilot was overdue on a flight from Circle City Airport that originated on February 7, 1997. The purpose of the flight was to deliver gasoline cans of fuel to a trapping cabin located in the Crescent River/Charley River area of the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Fellow trappers and pilots indicated they became concerned about the flight when the accident airplane did not return to Circle by February 10, 1997. They had been searching for 2 days prior to reporting the flight overdue. The fuel cans were not located at the intended destination, and no evidence that an airplane had landed was observed. On February 16, 1997, the airplane wreckage was observed by an airplane operating from the Circle City Airport. The wreckage was located about 300 yards southeast of the departure end of runway 15 at Circle, in an area of spruce trees. The fuel cans, each containing gasoline, intended for the trapping cabin, were located in the airplane wreckage. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight at lat
Probable cause
inadequate preflight by the pilot; and his subsequent loss of aircraft control, during the initial climb after takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot failed to ensure that the cargo was properly secured, and he allowed the aircraft's weight and balance limitations to be exceeded.
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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.
