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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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April 25, 1983 · Piper PA-18 · N4396Z

Soldotna, AK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 25, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Soldotna, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Tail Number
N4396Z
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
ANC83FA075

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT MANEUVERING ERRATICALLY NEAR THE ARPT & ANTICIPATED THE ACCIDENT. THE 1ST APPROACH TO RWY 25WAS DESCRIBED AS ERRATIC WITH MINIMAL APPARENT CONTROL WHICH INCLUDED AN ABRUPT PULL-UP, STALL, BOUNCE, & GO-AROUND IN ALEFT PATTERN AT 300 FT AGL. THE 2ND BASE LEG WAS A VERY SHALLOW(FLAT/SKIDDING) TURN & THE ACFT DISAPPEARED BEHIND TREES.THE PLT HAD A HISTORY OF DISEQUILIBRIUM & HAD INTERMITTENTLY BEEN TAKING DYAZIDE FOR HYPERTENSION OF UNKNOWN DOSES. ALL OF THE PLT'S PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS DECLINED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION. THE PLT HAD NOT OBTAINED A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE SINCE12/28/77.

Full Narrative

WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT MANEUVERING ERRATICALLY NEAR THE ARPT & ANTICIPATED THE ACCIDENT. THE 1ST APPROACH TO RWY 25WAS DESCRIBED AS ERRATIC WITH MINIMAL APPARENT CONTROL WHICH INCLUDED AN ABRUPT PULL-UP, STALL, BOUNCE, & GO-AROUND IN ALEFT PATTERN AT 300 FT AGL. THE 2ND BASE LEG WAS A VERY SHALLOW(FLAT/SKIDDING) TURN & THE ACFT DISAPPEARED BEHIND TREES.THE PLT HAD A HISTORY OF DISEQUILIBRIUM & HAD INTERMITTENTLY BEEN TAKING DYAZIDE FOR HYPERTENSION OF UNKNOWN DOSES. ALL OF THE PLT'S PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS DECLINED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION. THE PLT HAD NOT OBTAINED A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE SINCE12/28/77.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 AHDT
Nearest AirportSOLDOTNA (1nm N)
Runway25
Runway Length4973 ft
Runway Width130 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18
Tail NumberN4396Z
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-B2B · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 49 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind280° @ 15 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time15:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data