Arctic Aircraft Co Inc S 1B2 accident near Salcha, AK
On May 27, 2017, an Arctic Aircraft Co Inc S 1B2 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Salcha, AK. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 27, 2017
- Place
- Salcha, AK
- Aircraft
- Arctic Aircraft Co Inc S 1B2 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 64.647°N, 145.879°W
- NTSB ID
- 20170528X22231
Official records · ANC17FA026
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 27, 2017, about 1122 Alaska daylight time, an Arctic Aircraft Company S-1B2 airplane, N57AT, impacted terrain following a loss of control, about 35 miles east of Salcha, Alaska. The private pilot and the passenger sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Brice Consulting LLC and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed from an off-airport landing site near Fairbanks, Alaska, about 0925. According to a family member of the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to search for an overdue boat that was piloted by a family member of the passenger with the intent of landing at a remote unimproved airstrip located near the boat's destination. The boat had left the previous evening for a recreational cabin located along the Salcha River. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 1, 2017, a witness reported that she observed the airplane circle the remote unimproved airstrip along the Salcha River. While the airplane was circling, its nose suddenly dropped, and the airplane descended in a near-vertical attitude. She stated that the engine continued to run, and the airplane did not make any unusual sounds, other than an increase in engine rpm, during the descent. The witness reported strong wind conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 81,
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering in high winds, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to load the airplane beyond its allowable gross weight and center of gravity limits.
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Browse: Alaska
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
