Piper PA-18 N4111Z

Summary

On 26 May 2007 at about 08:30 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N4111Z was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 May 2007 at 08:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Fairbanks, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

64.2403, -147.7214

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N4111Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

North Pole → Fairbanks

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

ANC07CA039

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude/clearance while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with trees. A factor contributing to the accident was dusk lighting conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private certificated pilot reported that he arrived at his private cabin airstrip about 0030, and descended to about 200 feet msl, to parallel the strip at the conclusion of a Title 14, CFR Part 91, cross country personal flight. He said that at an airspeed of about 75 mph, he began a maneuvering right turn to check a cabin to the east of the strip, and encountered a downdraft. He applied full engine power, but the airplane continued to descend and collided with several spruce trees. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot said the wind conditions were light and variable. The pilot reported that the airplane did not have any mechanical malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.