Piper PA-16 N5960H
9 July 1993 · Fairbanks, Alaska, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 9 July 1993 at about 05:45 local time, a Piper PA-16 registered N5960H, operated by Sparks, Donald K, was involved in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. 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 05:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 64.8999, -148.1603
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-16
- Registration
- N5960H
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Sparks, Donald K
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC93FA114
People
4 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER, AND THE ALCOHOL IMPAIRMENT OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF THE PA-16, N5960H. A FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SUNGLARE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PA-16, N5960H, HAD CONTACTED THE TOWER 5 MI EAST FOR LANDING, AND WAS CLEARED TO ENTER A RIGHT BASE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE AIRPLANE CALLED & SAID HE WAS BEING PUSHED UP AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER AIRPLANE. IMPACT MARKS SHOWED THAT THE LEFT WING OF THE PA-18, N87568, HAD COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT FLOAT OF THE PA-16. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE ON A WESTERLY HEADING. AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION, THE SUN WAS 9.5 DEG ABOVE THE HORIZON AND ON A 303.7 DEG TRUE AZIMUTH. THE LEFT WING STRUTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES FAILED, AND BOTH AIRPLANES DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL. THE TOXICOLOGICAL SAMPLE FROM THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF THE THE PA-16, N5960H, SHOWED A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.060 GM/DL, AND A URINE ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.046 GM/DL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piper PA-16 PA-16 | N5960H | Sparks, Donald K | Substantial |
| Piper PA-18 PA-18 | N87568 | Stuhr, Ralph J. | Destroyed |
Other Piper PA-16 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1992 | Piper PA-16 | Williamson, Georgia, United States | Furlong, Louis R. JR. | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Jun 1995 | Piper PA-16 | Williston, North Dakota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 9 Sep 1990 | Piper PA-16 | Red Hook, New York, United States | Daniel L. Hickey | No injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 1996 | Piper PA-16 | Silver Lake, Indiana, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 1996 | Piper PA-16 | Lynnwood, Washington, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Mar 1997 | Piper PA-16 | Iliamna, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul 1993 | Cessna A185F | Denali Nat'l Pk, Alaska, United States | James Okonek | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1993 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Atigun Pass, Alaska, United States | Yutana Airlines | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Aug 1993 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Nikabuna Lake, Alaska, United States | Ketchum Air Service Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 1993 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Iliamna, Alaska, United States | Rainbow King, Inc | Fatal | 3 |
| 2 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-18A-150 | Sanona Creek, Alaska, United States | Garfield, Wade E. | Fatal | 2 |
| 8 Sep 1993 | Interstate S-1B2 ARCTIC TERN | Talkeetna River, Alaska, United States | Franklin, Gary L. | Serious injuries | - |