What happened
During an aerial maneuver at a low altitude, the aircraft entered a stall and subsequently impacted the ground in the vicinity of Kenai. The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury. The pilot of the aircraft died in the crash, while the passenger sustained significant injuries.
Findings
The investigation into the crash identified several critical factors that led to the loss of control. The primary cause was an aerodynamic stall occurring because the pilot did not maintain sufficient airspeed during a turn.
Several contributing elements were noted in the official report:
- The aircraft was operated at a weight exceeding its maximum gross weight by at least 1,230 lbs.
- The center of gravity was positioned 5% aft of the rear allowable limits.
- The pilot demonstrated poor judgment and insufficient preflight preparation.
- The aircraft had been loaded improperly.
- Adverse wind conditions were present during the flight.
- The maneuver was performed at a low altitude.