KOTZEBUE, AK, USA
N3421P
PIPER PA-18
THE PLT & HIS WIFE HAD FLOWN TO AN AREA WHERE SHE HAD SEEN A CARIBOU THAT SHE WANTED TO SHOOT. AFTER LANDING ON A GRAVEL BAR, SHE SHOT THE CARIBOU, BUT THEN COMPLAINED OF A BAD HEADACHE & VISION PROBLEMS. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THEY LOADED THE MEAT & HORNS IN THE ACFT, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HIS WIFE'S HEADACHE HAD GOTTEN WORSE. HE THOUGHT THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AT APRX 20 FT AGL, HIS WIFE MADE AN UNUSUAL SOUND & HE FELT A STRONG FORCE ON THE RIGHT RUDDER. (LATER, HE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT SHE HAD A SEIZURE.) REPORTEDLY, HE SHOUTED FOR HER TO GET OFF OF THE CONTROLS, THEN FELT A LOSS OF LIFT & WAS UNABLE TO OVERCOME THE RUDDER FORCE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED ON A RIVER BANK. HIS WIFE RECEIVED A HEAD INJURY & WAS FATALLY INJURED. AN AUTOPSY OF THE PLT'S WIFE DID NOT VERIFY THAT SHE HAD A SEIZURE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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