Piper PA-18-150 N82951

Summary

On 2 March 1994 at about 21:16 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N82951 was involved in an accident near Frenchglen, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 March 1994 at 21:16

Classification

Accident

Location

Frenchglen, Oregon, United States

Coordinates

42.7203, -119.1198

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N82951

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Burns → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA94FA071

1 person died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM AIRSPEED (VS). THE TAILWIND WAS A FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT OF THE PA-18 WAS MANEUVERING AT ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND NEAR A DIRT/GRAVEL ROAD WHICH SHE INTENDED TO USE AS A LANDING SITE. AFTER TURNING IN A DIRECTION SUCH THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXPERIENCING A DIRECT TAILWIND OF 15 TO 20 KNOTS, THE PILOT BEGAN A CLIMBING TURN. THE DIRECT TAILWIND INCREASED THE AIRCRAFT'S GROUND SPEED, CREATING THE ILLUSION THAT THE AIRCRAFT'S AIRSPEED HAD INCREASED AS WELL. DURING THE CLIMBING TURN, THE PILOT ALLOWED HER AIRSPEED TO DECREASE TO A POINT WHERE THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. HER REMEDIAL ACTION WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO RECOVER, AND THE AIRCRAFT SPUN INTO THE TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.