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April 14, 2001 · Piper PA-32R-301 · N4375B

Emmonak, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 14, 2001
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Emmonak, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-32R-301
Tail Number
N4375B
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC01LA056

As the certificated commercial pilot was en route to his destination airport, he noticed a man standing beside a snow machine, waving his arms. He said that he descended to about 100 feet above the ground, and flew over the individual. The pilot stated that the man continued to wave his arms, leading the pilot to believe that the man needed help. The pilot said that he then climbed to 1,500 feet, called the Flight Service Station (FSS), to advise them to send help. After being assured by the FSS specialist that help was on the way, he once again descended, and elected to drop a note to the man on the snow machine, to let him know help was on the way. The pilot wrote: "With gear down, and full flaps extended, I began approaching the man. At about 75 to 100 feet AGL, the aircraft began to stall. Recognizing the stall, I began to add full power, but the stall progressed too quickly, and subsequently caused the aircraft to touch down on a tributary of the Yukon River." He said that as the airplane touched down, the main wheels and right wing contacted deep snow, and the nose landing gear collapsed.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadvertent stall while maneuvering. A factor associated with the accident was soft, snow-covered terrain.

Full Narrative

On April 14, 2001, about 1130 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-32R-301 airplane, N4375B, sustained substantial damage while landing at an off airport site located about 28 miles southeast of Emmonak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, Larry's Flying Service, Inc., Fairbanks, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated from the Saint Mary's Airport, Saint Mary's, Alaska, about 1100. In a written statement to the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, the pilot reported that while en route to his destination airport, he noticed a man standing beside a snow machine, waving his arms. He said that he descended to about 100 feet above the ground, and flew over the individual. The pilot stated that the man continued to wave his arms, leading the pilot to believe that the man needed help. The pilot said that he then climbed to 1,500 feet, called the Flight Service Station (FSS) , to advise them to send help. After being assured by the FSS specialist that help was on the way, he once again descended, and elected to drop a note to the man on the snow machine, to let him know help was on the way. The pilot wrote: "With gear down, and full flaps extended, I began approaching the man. At about 75 to 100 feet AGL, the aircraft began to stall. Recognizing the stall, I began to add full power, but the stall progressed to quickly, and subsequently caused the aircraft to touch down on a tributary of the Yukon River." He said that as the airplane touched down, the main wheels and right wing contacted deep snow, and the nose landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-32R-301
Tail NumberN4375B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540-K165D · Reciprocating · 300
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 23 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data