BETTLES, AK, USA
N6592L
PIPER PA-18
THE AIRPLANE CRASHED AT THE 3300 FOOT LEVEL ON A MOUNTAINSIDE WITH AN APPROXIMATE 30 DEGREE GRADIENT. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS ON APPROACH TO LAND ON THE MOUNTAINSIDE, AND THE AIRPLANE ' TOUCHED DOWN EARLY'. THE PASSENGER SAID THEY WERE PLANNING TO FLY THROUGH A PASS TO THEIR FRONT, AND THE AIRPLANE GOT 'TOO LOW AND TOO SLOW', THEN COULD NOT OUT CLIMB THE RISING TERRAIN. THE HELICOPTER PILOT WHO RECOVERED THE WRECKAGE SAID THERE WERE NO SUITABLE LANDING AREAS NEARBY.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE OPERATING IN THE MOUNTAINS. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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