1989-04-22: Piper PA-18 — Niver, Mark A. — Talkeetna, AK

Casualties unknown • Talkeetna, AK, US

Probable cause

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THE INADVERTANT STALL/MUSH OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE, SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD TAKEN TWO PASSENGERS FOR A SCENIC RIDE IN HIS ONE PASSENGER AIRPLANE. HE WAS FLYING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OVER THE RUTH GLACIER NEAR MOUNT MCKINLEY. HE SAW THE WORD 'HELP' STAMPED IN THE SNOW BY A GROUP OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS, TWO OF WHICH WERE INJURED. HE ELECTED TO LAND TO SEE IF HE COULD HELP, BUT ENCOUNTERED REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO SNOW AND LOW CLOUDS. HE ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND BUT STALLED THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 30 FEET AGL. HE AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES AND WAITED RESCUE WITH THE CLIMBERS IN A NEARBY CABIN.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1989-04-22 Piper PA-18 accident near Talkeetna, AK?

THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD TAKEN TWO PASSENGERS FOR A SCENIC RIDE IN HIS ONE PASSENGER AIRPLANE. HE WAS FLYING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OVER THE RUTH GLACIER NEAR MOUNT MCKINLEY. HE SAW THE WORD 'HELP' STAMPED IN THE SNOW BY A GROUP OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS, TWO OF WHICH WERE INJURED. HE ELECTED TO LAND TO SEE IF HE COULD HELP,…

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1989-04-22 involved a Piper PA-18, registration N1738A, operated by Niver, Mark A., at Talkeetna, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THE INADVERTANT STALL/MUSH OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE, SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X28018. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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