According to the passenger, the pilot of the Super Cub was making a second low pass over friends just before the accident in Sterling, Alaska. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying very slowly, about 300 feet above the ground, with the engine at a low power setting.
The right wing dipped, and it subsequently entered a near-vertical spiraling descent, hit a tree, and came to rest in a snow bank.
Both the pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The pilot was unable to remember anything about the accident due to injuries.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, lift struts, and fuselage.
Investigators determined that given the lack of evidence of any mechanical problems, the passenger and witnesses’ account of the accident, and the airplane’s near-vertical descent, it is likely that the pilot inadvertently stalled the airplane at low altitude and was unable to recover.
The NTSB determined the probable cause was the pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
NTSB Identification: ANC13LA026
This February 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
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Edward Seaton says
February 3, 2015 at 8:24 pmIt makes me wonder,what kind of Flight Instructor did this Pilot have when he learned to fly..In 57 years of Flight Instructing I never had a Pilot that I taught,have an accident like that.
greg says
February 3, 2015 at 5:14 amStalling a Cub ? I don’t have much experience on it, but I would think you would have to go very slow… Anyone got more input on this ?
James says
February 3, 2015 at 6:26 amThe old adage “you can fly low and you can fly slow, but you can’t fly low and slow.”
Bluestar says
February 4, 2015 at 2:13 amYes you can, helicopters do it all the time, the trick is remembering what you are flying.
greg says
February 4, 2015 at 2:20 amIf helicopters are so safe, how come there are no vintage/classic helicopter fly-ins?
🙂
Bob says
February 4, 2015 at 11:01 amI can (maybe) teach you to fly and give words 43 yrs of flying wisdom,, but I can’t teach you common sense, total physics course, how to think.all’s I can do is not sign you off!!