Piper PA-18-135 N1155C

Summary

On 12 February 2012 at about 01:20 local time, a Piper PA-18-135 registered N1155C, operated by Kyle Martin, was involved in an accident near Concrete, Washington, 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

12 February 2012 at 01:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Concrete, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Mears Field Airport (3W5)

Coordinates

48.7589, -121.8336

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-135

Registration

N1155C

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Kyle Martin

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sudden Valley → Sudden Valley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR12CA102

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot did not attain and maintain sufficient altitude to clear terrain while maneuvering.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that while flying, he observed injured snowmobilers waving for help. After radioing for assistance, the pilot gathered emergency supplies from within the airplane and prepared to air-drop the supplies to the snowmobilers and configured the airplane for a slow approach over their location. After a successful drop, he applied full power and banked left to avoid terrain. The airplane encountered a downdraft and started to descend with the left wing low. Despite the pilot’s control inputs, the airplane continued to lose altitude until it impacted the glacier below. The airplane’s firewall and both wings were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.