TALKEETNA, AK, USA
N1738A
PIPER PA-18
THE PRIVATE PILOT HAD TAKEN TWO PASSENGERS FOR A SCENIC RIDE IN HIS ONE PASSENGER AIRPLANE. HE WAS FLYING IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OVER THE RUTH GLACIER NEAR MOUNT MCKINLEY. HE SAW THE WORD 'HELP' STAMPED IN THE SNOW BY A GROUP OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS, TWO OF WHICH WERE INJURED. HE ELECTED TO LAND TO SEE IF HE COULD HELP, BUT ENCOUNTERED REDUCED VISIBILITY DUE TO SNOW AND LOW CLOUDS. HE ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND BUT STALLED THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 30 FEET AGL. HE AND HIS TWO PASSENGERS ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES AND WAITED RESCUE WITH THE CLIMBERS IN A NEARBY CABIN.
THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND THE INADVERTANT STALL/MUSH OF THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE, SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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