N9265D

Substantial
Serious

PIPER PA 18-150S/N: 18-6563

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, August 9, 2015
NTSB Number
ANC15LA063
Location
Talkeetna, AK
Event ID
20150817X00955
Coordinates
62.299999, -151.689727
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

Impact with terrain during low-level cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
18-6563
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
PA 18-150M600
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
PA-18-150

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
GAGNON MATTHEW I
Address
508 AUKLET PL
City
FAIRBANKS
State / Zip Code
AK 99709-6653
Country
United States

Analysis

On August 8, 2015, about 1900 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N9265D, was substantially damaged after a loss of control and a subsequent collision with terrain about 45 miles west of Talkeetna, Alaska. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a Federal Aviation Administration flight plan had not been filed for the flight.

The pilot stated that he was returning home after dropping off some hunters at a remote hunting camp. During the flight home, flying about 500 feet above ground level, he was looking at the north side of Sleeping Lady mountain. The next thing that he remembered was after the airplane had crashed and he had a broken leg. He extracted himself from the wreckage, found a satellite phone and requested assistance.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage.

A UH-60 helicopter from the Alaska Air National Guard located the accident site on the evening of the accident and transported the pilot to a medical facility for treatment.

In the NTSB form 6120.1 submitted by the pilot, he noted that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He added that the airplane was not recovered from the accident site.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC15LA063