Piper PA-18-150 accident near Cold Bay, AK
On May 22, 2004, a Piper PA-18-150 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cold Bay, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 22, 2004
- Place
- Cold Bay, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 55.262°N, 162.727°W
- NTSB ID
- 20040610X00783
Official records · ANC04FA056
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 21, 2004, about 2100 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N4319Z, sustained substantial damage during a collision with terrain following an in-flight loss of control 10 miles northwest of Cold Bay, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) business flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport pilot received serious injuries, and the sole passenger received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at an un-named float pond, about 45 miles northwest of Cold Bay. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on May 22, a co-worker of the pilot said he had helped the pilot fuel the accident airplane at Blinn Lake, about 7 miles north of their lodge at Cold Bay. He said about 1800, the pilot took off en route to an un-named float pond near a hunting camp to retrieve a guide and equipment. The co-worker said when the airplane did not return by 2200, he reported the airplane missing. He said the wreckage of the airplane was located about 10 miles from the lodge, near Blinn Lake. He said when he got to the airplane the pilot was conscious, but not coherent. He said the pilot, the guide, and the equipment from the hunting camp were in the airplane, and the airplane was heavily damaged by impact with the ground. The airplane was recovered, and stored in a container in a storage yard in Co
Probable cause
A loss of engine power during the final approach to land for an undetermined reason, and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the ensuing emergency descent, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. A factor associated with the accident was the stall.
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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.
