Piper PA-18 N82905

Summary

On 18 September 2006 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N82905, operated by Alaskan Adventures Lodge, was involved in an accident near Koliganek, Alaska, 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

18 September 2006 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Koliganek, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.3036, -156.8994

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N82905

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Alaskan Adventures Lodge

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sleetmute → Koliganek

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC06CA133

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from rising terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the accident were a downdraft, the pilot's intentional low altitude flight, and his inadequate weather evaluation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial certificated pilot reported he was flying at a low altitude over rising terrain during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 business flight, searching for sites to deploy a tent camp in support of a lodge operation. While approaching a ridgeline, he stated that a powerful downdraft forced the airplane into a brush-covered hillside. The pilot reported that neither he nor the sole passenger were injured, and that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage structure.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.