No fatalities

7 Apr 2020: Piper PA 18A 150 — Chickaloon, AK

Chickaloon, AK, United States

On 7 Apr 2020, a Piper PA 18A 150 was involved in an aviation accident near Chickaloon, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which necessitated a go-around, and her subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising mountainous terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot executing a go-around in a wheel/ski-equipped airplane collided with rising, snow-covered terrain, causing substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage.

Accident Overview

A pilot was landing a wheel/ski-equipped airplane at a remote off-airport site in a mountainous area covered with snow. The pilot selected a landing area that was slightly uphill. During the final approach, she felt uncomfortable with the approach and decided to perform a go-around. She added full power and initiated a left turn. The airplane subsequently collided with rising, snow-covered terrain.

Damage

The collision resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. No other damage was reported.

Pilot Report

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. The weather at the time of the accident was described as clear sky with light and variable wind.

Pilot Self-Assessment

The pilot noted that she should have made another practice approach or two to verify the wind direction and local terrain conditions before attempting the landing.

Contributing factors

PilotAltitude — Not attained/maintainedEffect on operationDecision related to condition