During an animal damage control mission near Garrett, Wyoming, the Piper PA-18-150 was maneuvering at a low altitude over wildlife when it encountered “rough, disturbed air,” according to the pilot.
He counteracted by leveling the wings and pushing the nose down slightly.
As the airplane began to fly out of the disturbed air, it encountered disturbed air a second time. The pilot leveled the wings and moved the control stick to neutral due to the close proximity of the ground and sink rate.
The airplane then hit the ground, coming to rest inverted. The pilot sustained minor injuries in the crash.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while conducting low-level altitude operations, following an encounter with wake turbulence.
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This June 2024 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.
I dunno; this one’s kinda wonky. I’m not buying it.
Probable Cause and Findings: “The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain while conducting low-level altitude operations, following an encounter with wake turbulence.”
Wake turbulence …from a (fill in the blank)?
“The pilot reported that during an animal damage control mission, while maneuvering at a low altitude over wildlife, the airplane encountered rough, disturbed air” ….“similar to a microburst, downdraft event” …
A “microburst, downdraft event” on an otherwise calm, cool, VMC day at @ 0551 AM?
“Animal damage control mission” is actually code for “shooting coyotes from the back seat”.
How about: “While executing
wild & crazy maneuvering, so the gunner could get a shot at the ‘wildlife predator’, they got too low and hit the ground.” Period.
This area is subject to the mountain waves that create rotors that can travel miles from the mountains.
I’ve experienced mountain waves at 7,500 ft, while 20 miles north of the Tahachapi Mtns, north of LA, near Edrards AFB, that cause 500 fpm up and down rates.
That ultra dangerous goose wake turbulence, or was it buffalo farts?
What a terrible report.
‘Disturbed air’ perhaps = invisible ‘dust devils’?
The usual bland, blanket condemnation of the pilot. How about “Pilot failed to be clairvoyant of invisible air mass flocculation.” Every GA flight contains a component of Russian Roulette. If the ‘skeeters don’t get you, the gators will.