PAXSON, AK, USA
N7339T
Cessna 172A
The private pilot stated to the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge that he flew the airplane into a ravine to view animals, and realized that the airplane could not climb out of the ravine. He said that while attempting to reverse the airplane's direction at slow speed, the airplane stalled, and collided with rising terrain.
On March 25, 1998, at 1630 Alaska standard time, a Cessna 172A airplane, N7339T, was destroyed when it collided with terrain 15 miles west-southwest of Paxson, Alaska. The private pilot and the two passengers aboard were uninjured. The airplane was co-owned by the pilot. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight to view animals. Visual meteorological condition prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot stated during an interview with the NTSB IIC on March 26, 1998, that he flew the airplane into a ravine, realized that the airplane could not climb out of it, and attempted to reverse direction at slow speed. He indicated that during the turn the airplane stalled, collided with rising terrain, and nosed onto its back. The pilot did not complete and return the Pilot/Operator Reports which were sent to him.
The pilots failure to maintain terrain clearance while flying into a box canyon, and an inadvertent stall during his attempt to reverse direction.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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