NTSB Identification: ANC15LA035
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident
occurred
Thursday, June 04, 2015
in
McCarthy, AK
Aircraft:
PIPER PA 18-150, registration:
N985W
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This
is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors.
Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has
been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of
this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare
this aircraft accident report.
On
June 4, 2015, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, the pilot-in-command of
N985W, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, was struck by the spinning propeller
while attempting to load the airplane, 15 miles east of McCarthy,
Alaska.
The airplane sustained minor damage and the certificated airline
transport pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered
to Hunter Creek, LLC and operated by Alaska Cub Training Specialists,
Palmer, Alaska, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91
instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the
time of the accident and no flight plan was filed.
In statements provided to the United States Park Service and National Transportation Safety Board, witnesses stated that four airplanes, flying as a group, had landed at Pevine Bar Airstrip in the Wrangell - St. Elias National Park.
In statements provided to the United States Park Service and National Transportation Safety Board, witnesses stated that four airplanes, flying as a group, had landed at Pevine Bar Airstrip in the Wrangell - St. Elias National Park.
To stave off swarms of mosquitos while loading the airplanes, the
engines of all four airplanes were started and allowed to operate at
idle, with the cockpits unattended.
While loading gear on the right side
of the airplane, the airplane to the left of the accident airplane,
also a Piper, PA-18, began slowly moving forward. The pilot of N985W
attempted to go around the front of his airplane towards the left wing
to prevent the two airplanes from making contact. Subsequently, the
pilot ran into the back of the spinning propeller, and was struck three
times.
The closest weather reporting facility is Gulkana Airport, Gulkana, Alaska, 95 miles from the accident site. At 1053, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) from the Gulkana Airport was reporting in part: wind from 040 degrees at 7 knots; sky condition, clear; visibility, 10 statute miles; temperature 52 degrees F; dew point 36 degrees F; altimeter 29.39inHG.
The closest weather reporting facility is Gulkana Airport, Gulkana, Alaska, 95 miles from the accident site. At 1053, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) from the Gulkana Airport was reporting in part: wind from 040 degrees at 7 knots; sky condition, clear; visibility, 10 statute miles; temperature 52 degrees F; dew point 36 degrees F; altimeter 29.39inHG.