On 12 Feb 2012, a PIPER PA-18-135 operated by Kyle Martin was involved in an aviation accident near Concrete, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot did not attain and maintain sufficient altitude to clear terrain while maneuvering. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot dropping emergency supplies to injured snowmobilers encountered a downdraft, causing the airplane to descend and impact a glacier, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall and wings.
Accident Details
A pilot reported observing injured snowmobilers waving for help while flying. After radioing for assistance, he gathered emergency supplies from within the airplane and prepared to air drop them. He configured the airplane for a slow approach over the snowmobilers' location. Following a successful drop, the pilot applied full power and banked left to avoid terrain. During this maneuver, the airplane encountered a downdraft and began to descend with the left wing low. Despite the pilot’s control inputs, the airplane continued losing altitude until it impacted the glacier below. The airplane’s firewall and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight.