Arctic S 1B2 N57AT

Summary

On 27 May 2017 at about 19:22 local time, a Arctic S 1B2 registered N57AT was involved in an accident near Salcha, 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

27 May 2017 at 19:22

Classification

Accident

Location

Salcha, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

64.6475, -145.8786

Aircraft

Arctic S 1B2

Registration

N57AT

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fairbanks → Salcha

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC17FA026

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering in high winds, which resulted in the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to load the airplane beyond its allowable gross weight and center of gravity limits.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were searching for an overdue boat with the intent of landing at a remote unimproved airstrip located near the boat's intended destination. A witness reported strong wind conditions as she observed the airplane circle the airstrip. While the airplane was circling, its nose suddenly dropped, and the airplane descended in a near-vertical attitude to ground impact. She stated that the engine continued to run, and the airplane did not make any unusual sounds, other than an increase in engine rpm, during the descent. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The observed damage to the airplane indicated that it impacted the ground in a nose-down, near-vertical attitude. The witness account and the damage to the airplane were consistent with the pilot failing to maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in the airplane's wing exceeding its critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. The airplane's estimated gross weight at the time of the accident was about 130.5 pounds over its approved maximum gross weight of 1,650 pounds, and the airplane's estimated center of gravity was about 0.1 inches beyond the approved aft limit at gross weight. As excessive weight increases stall speed and an aft center of gravity decreases controllability, it is likely that the pilot's decision to operate the airplane over gross weight with an aft center of gravity contributed to the loss of control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.