The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Fairbanks, Alaska
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N8998Y
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board
Location: Salcha, AK
Accident Number: ANC16LA060
Date & Time: 08/27/2016, 1048 AKD
Registration: N8998Y
Aircraft: PIPER PA 18-150
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: VFR encounter with IMC
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On August 27, 2016, about 1048 Alaska daylight time (AKD), a float-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N8998Y, sustained substantial damage after impacting mountainous terrain about 9 miles southwest of Salcha, Alaska. The student pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Chena Marina Airport (AK28), Fairbanks, Alaska about 1015 AKD en route to Birch Lake.
According to the pilot's flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was for the pilot to attend a business meeting.
During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 27, the pilot's flight instructor stated that the night before the accident, the accident airplane was experiencing anomalies with the aircraft communications radio. The radio was to be repaired the night before the flight.
On the day of the accident, the instructor departed about 10 minutes ahead of the accident pilot in the same direction. Due to low cloud ceilings, the flight instructor returned to Chena Marina. When he landed and turned on his cell phone, he received a voicemail from the accident pilot stating that he had crashed, there was a post-crash fire, and he needed help. The timestamp on the voicemail was 1052. The pilot was rescued by a US Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter about 1350 and transported for treatment.
A review of archived Federal Aviation Administration air traffic radar and audio recordings depicted the flight instructor's airplane departing AK28 about 1009 and the accident airplane departing about 1015. Immediately after departure, air traffic control queried the accident pilot as to his heading, which he responded with "southeast." Air traffic control queried again for the actual heading, and once more the accident pilot replied "southeast." At 1016, air traffic control asked for his altitude, which he advised was 1,400 ft. At 1030, the pilot made an unauthorized entry into the western edge of the airspace controlled by Eielson Air Force Base. At 1034, the radar data depicts the airplane on a ground track of 123 degrees magnetic and at 1041 the airplane is depicted on a ground track of 117 degrees magnetic. The last radar return attributed to the accident airplane was at 1048 near the location of the accident site.
All radio communications from the accident pilot contain static noise consistent with radio interference.
The pilot stated on the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report that he departed AK28 about 1015 destined for Birch Lake. While en route, he entered IMC and elected to continue straight ahead and began a descent. While descending, he saw trees through the fog and attempted to climb just prior to impacting the trees. Following the impact, a post-crash fire ensued.
The closest weather reporting facility is Eielson Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 16 miles northwest of the accident site. At 1043, a METAR from the Eielson Air Force Base was reporting in part: Wind from 360° at 4 knots; sky condition, overcast at 200 ft; visibility, 3/4 statute miles; temperature, 54° F; dewpoint, 54° F; altimeter, 30.23 inches of mercury.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Student
Age: 69, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/10/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 450 hours (Total, all aircraft), 450 hours (Total, this make and model), 350 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 12 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 12 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: PIPER
Registration: N8998Y
Model/Series: PA 18-150
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1975
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 18-7509132
Landing Gear Type: Float;
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/11/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1750 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 6 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1950 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320 SERIES
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 150 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PAEI, 547 ft msl
Observation Time: 1843 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 15 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 315°
Lowest Cloud Condition: / 200 ft agl
Temperature/Dew Point: 12°C / 12°C
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 200 ft agl
Visibility: 1.75 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 4 knots, 360°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.23 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: Moderate - Mist
Departure Point: FAIRBANKS, AK (AK28)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Salcha, AK
Type of Clearance: VFR
Departure Time: 1015 AKD
Type of Airspace: Class E; Military Operation Area
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: On-Ground
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 64.511111, -146.682222
FAIRBANKS, Alaska Search teams rescued a Fairbanks pilot who crashed his plane near Harding Lake Saturday morning.
Alaska State Troopers say that William Larry, 69, was the only person on board his Piper Super Cub aircraft when it went down about seven 7 northeast of Harding Lake.
The search and rescue effort included two Alaska Wildlife Trooper aircraft and the US Army’s 52nd Aviation Regiment.
Just before 2pm, Larry was found and taken to the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital by a Blackhawk helicopter, Troopers say, for injuries he sustained during the crash.
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