NTSB Factual Report

On August 27, 1994, at 2200 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N13900, registered to and operated by the pilot, crashed while turning to reverse direction in a valley near the confluence of Tyonne and Daisy Creeks. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed a lake in the area and the destination was Lake Hood, Anchorage, Alaska.

No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the take off area. However, there were lower ceilings and visibilities near the mountain passes. The accident occurred during the hours of dusk. The pilot and the passenger were fatally injured and the airplane was destroyed by post impact fire.

There were no witnesses to the accident. However, there were hunters camped near the entrance of the valley in which the accident took place. These hunters rescued the passenger. He was found stooping outside of the airplane and his body was covered with burns. According to the rescuers, the passenger, another rated pilot and check airman for the Department of Interior, Office of Aircraft Services, stated they were making a steep turn to reverse direction and the airplane stalled and spun into the ground. He stated he felt he would have been able to recover the airplane if he would have had controls in the rear seat. The passenger passed away approximately 4 hours after the accident.

According to the hunters in the area camped near the valley, the wind had been gusty all day and occasionally they would feel gusts estimated at 50 knots coming from the north and down the valley.

According to Mr Ken Spearin, stepfather of the pilot, the pilot and passenger stopped to pick up a rifle that the passenger had left at camp earlier during a hunt. He stated they had very little gear on board and approximately 30 gallons of fuel. The pilot and passenger loaded the airplane, made their take off, and departed the area to the North. He stated that many of the passes had marginal weather and he did not follow the direction of the airplane closely after departure.

Family members were not able to locate any airplane or pilot logbooks and believe the logbooks were destroyed in the post impact fire.

Autopsies were conducted by Dr. Michael T. Propst, Forensic Pathologist, Department of Health and Social Services, Office of the Medical Examiner, 5500 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska, 99507.

Toxicological information was provided by Dr. Propst and results were negative for the pilot and the passenger.

NTSB Probable Cause

AIRSPEED NOT MAINTAINED. A FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS.