Accident Overview
On September 10, 2008, at approximately 1630 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 airplane, registration N7174K, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with terrain and subsequent fire. The accident occurred about 40 miles east of Talkeetna, Alaska. The aircraft was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91 as a visual flight rules (VFR) local other work use flight in conjunction with the pilot's hunting guide business. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane had departed Talkeetna Airport around 1600.
The airplane was reported overdue on September 10 when it failed to return for a second passenger. Weather and darkness delayed search efforts until September 11. On that day, searchers located the wreckage and the deceased pilot. The passenger was subsequently found about 5 miles from the accident site, attempting to seek help.
Passenger Account
In a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on September 12, the passenger stated that he and the pilot were searching for caribou and a campsite about 40 miles east of Talkeetna. They began circling a likely campsite in a left turn. The turn tightened and the bank angle became steeper. At one point, the bank suddenly steepened significantly, and the passenger heard the pilot exclaim something like "Oh No!" over the intercom. The passenger, who had been looking out the left side, saw the ground when he looked forward. The left wing struck the ground first, followed by the nose. The passenger reported no problems with the airplane before the accident.
After the crash, the passenger extinguished fire on himself and then on the pilot, but his efforts to help the pilot were in vain. He spent the night at the accident site and left the next morning toward a camp about 10 miles away.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The commercial pilot held an FAA third-class medical certificate issued on February 23, 2007, with 2,000 hours of total flying experience reported. No personal pilot records were recovered. An autopsy determined the cause of death as blunt force trauma from the crash; toxicological tests were negative.
The airplane, a Piper PA-18 (N7174K), had an annual inspection on April 1, 2008, with no mechanical anomalies noted. The aircraft's logbooks showed no discrepancies.
Investigation
The NTSB attempted to reach the accident site on September 16 and 19 but canceled due to weather. Approaching winter storms prevented further attempts, and the airplane has not been examined by the NTSB. The site is located on a ridge in steep, mountainous terrain bounded by rivers and creeks. Aerial photographs taken during the search for the missing passenger showed the airplane impacted in a steep descent, with a small impact diameter and no discernible horizontal component. All major components appeared to be present at the site.