On June 28, 2006, a Piper PA-12 (registration N7658H) operated by Michael T. Lawler was involved in an aviation accident near Cooper Landing, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while performing a low level pass, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain. A factor contributing to the accident was an inadvertent stall. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A private pilot and passenger were dropping food packages to hikers when their floatplane crashed after a low pass. The aircraft descended nose-down and struck the ground near a cabin. Rescue personnel transported the passenger to a hospital.
Accident Overview
A private certificated pilot and a passenger were operating a float-equipped airplane for the purpose of delivering food packages to a group of hikers at a remote cabin. After arriving in the area, the pilot performed two low-level passes over the cabin. On the third pass, the passenger, seated in the rear seat, began dropping packages. The airplane then initiated a turn and flew between the cabin and a mountain slope located north of the cabin, on what appeared to be a fourth pass.
Sequence of Events
As the airplane came by the cabin, witnesses observed the left wing and nose rise. The airplane then executed a 180-degree turn to the right and descended to the ground in a nose-down attitude. It collided with the ground in a near-vertical orientation. Members of the hiker group provided care to the pilot and passenger. One member left the cabin on foot to notify law enforcement. Rescue personnel later responded and transported the passenger to a hospital.
Aircraft Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction.