Piper PA-22-160 N8143D
21 September 1991 · Stoney River, Alaska, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 21 September 1991 at about 02:30 local time, a Piper PA-22-160 registered N8143D, operated by Daniel C. Herman, was involved in an accident near Stoney River, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Stoney River, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 61.1599, -149.9890
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160
- Registration
- N8143D
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Daniel C. Herman
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Red Devil → Soldotna
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC91LA150
People
3 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN A PROPER CLIMB. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE, HIS INADEQUATE TRAINING IN THAT MODEL AIRPLANE, HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE, HIS INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY, THE UNFAVORABLE WIND, AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE UNLICENSED PILOT STATED THAT AFTER MAKING A LOW PASS OVER A REMOTE HUNTING STRIP, HE ADDED POWER TO MAKE A GO-AROUND. THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE PITCHED UP STEEPLY, AND A CROSSWIND CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO TURN AND FLY INTO A CANYON. TO AVOID A STALL, HE REDUCED POWER AND PUSHED THE NOSE DOWN. HE THEN ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT WHICH PUSHED THE AIRPLANE DOWN INTO THE TREES. THE PILOT HAD PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE 2-3 DAYS PREVIOUSLY AND HAD ONLY ABOUT 6 HOURS IN THIS TYPE AIRPLANE. HE REPORTED HAVING A TOTAL OF 500 FLIGHT HOURS, OF WHICH ONLY 5 WERE WITH AN INSTRUCTOR. SEVERAL MODIFICATIONS HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON THE AIRPLANE, TWO OF WHICH WERE NOT APPROVED. THE PILOT SAID HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH SOME OF THE AIRPLANE'S UNUSUAL HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-22 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Jul 1991 | Piper PA-22-150 | Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, United States | Skyhaven Airport, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 May 1991 | Piper PA-22-150 | Danville, Virginia, United States | Eoanna K. Casey | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jun 1991 | Piper PA-22-150 | Elkins, West Virginia, United States | Allen D Chenoweth | No injuries | - |
| 20 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-22-108 | Auburn, Washington, United States | Brian F. Zderic | No injuries | - |
| 2 Dec 1991 | Piper PA-22-135 | Siebert, Colorado, United States | Bolton, Chris A./Jeanne C. | Serious injuries | - |
| 21 May 1991 | Piper PA-22-160 | Mankato, Minnesota, United States | Steve/Chris Napier | No injuries | - |
All 3,095 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1991 | Piper PA-20 | Anchorage, Alaska, United States | Hickok, Bruce D. | No injuries | - |
| 22 May 1991 | David K Maxwell MAX-1 | Sutton, Alaska, United States | Stanley R. Dapkus | Serious injuries | - |
| 5 Jan 1991 | Cessna 172G | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | Larry M. Driskill | No injuries | - |
| 2 Feb 1991 | Champion 7EC | Eagle River, Alaska, United States | Robert C. Bischoff | No injuries | - |
| 29 Mar 1991 | Cessna 206 | Homer, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-18-150 | Tatitlek, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |