Piper PA-18-150 N2413H

Summary

On 12 August 2010 at about 23:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N2413H was involved in an accident near McGrath, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 August 2010 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

McGrath, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

63.4961, -154.9153

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N2413H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tanana → McGrath

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC10FA069

2 people died.

The pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions and the airplane’s subsequent aerodynamic stall, which resulted in an in-flight collision with mountainous terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were in the first in a flight of two airplanes operating as a personal cross-country flight. As the flight progressed, both airplanes descended due to deteriorating weather conditions as they passed over an area of steep mountainous terrain. The second pilot said that visibility deteriorated to a point that it was difficult to discern topographical features. He then lost sight of the first airplane, so he elected to turn around. No further radio communications were received from the accident airplane. The airplane’s wreckage was subsequently found in an area of mountainous terrain, along the anticipated flight path, at the end of a box canyon. During the on-scene examination of the wreckage, no preaccident mechanical anomalies were discovered. Given the lack of mechanical anomalies, the reported weather conditions, and the statement of the pilot of the second airplane, it is likely that the pilot of the accident airplane flew into instrument meteorological conditions while trying to maneuver the airplane through mountainous terrain. Additionally, given the impact signatures, it’s likely that the pilot was attempting to avoid rising terrain by climbing the airplane, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.