Piper PA-18 N241WH

Summary

On 21 September 1996 at about 00:30 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N241WH was involved in an accident near Minto, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 September 1996 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Minto, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

65.1510, -149.3706

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N241WH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fairbanks → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC96FA161

1 person died.

the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, while maneuvering to land, which resulted in inadequate airspeed for conditions, an inadvertent stall, and collision with terrain (water).

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was going to land the float equipped airplane in the area to pick up fellow hunters. Witnesses saw the airplane fly low over trees and make a bank to align with the landing area on the water. They heard the engine power increase, saw the nose of the airplane rise, watched as the airplane banked 60 degrees to the right, and then saw the airplane crash nose low into the water. The wind in the area was blowing approximately 20 knots. Witnesses also stated that below tree top level, the wind was not perceptible.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.