Piper PA-18-150 N82555

Summary

On 11 July 1995 at about 21:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N82555 was involved in an accident near McCall, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 July 1995 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

McCall, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

(Usfs) Vines

Coordinates

45.0699, -115.9701

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N82555

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA95LA148

Nobody was injured.

IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE (OR INABILITY) TO REMAIN CLEAR OF TERRAIN AFTER INITIATING A GO-AROUND. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE TERRAIN AND WIND CONDITIONS (INCLUDING DOWNDRAFTS).

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN ON THE GRAVEL AIRSTRIP LOCATED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE AIRPLANE'S GROUND SPEED ACCELERATED (TAILWIND). THE PILOT OPTED TO GO-AROUND AND STATED THAT DURING THE CLIMB OUT, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED DOWN DRAFTS. THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO OUT-CLIMB THE TERRAIN AND THE PILOT MANEUVERED THE AIRPLANE FOR A FORCED LANDING INTO A RIVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO LANDING, THE PILOT WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER PILOT ON THE GROUND OF TURBULENT CONDITIONS ON FINAL APPROACH.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.