Low altitude stalls are a dangerous and frequent occurrence in Alaska and pilots should take every precaution to prevent them. Dubbed "moose-turn stalls", they often occur when hunters are flying low over the bush, looking for moose in an attitude that involves steep tight turns.
According to NTSB Anchorage investigator Chris Shaver, who narrates the above video, pilots often stop training for stalls. "We don't stop flying," says Shaver in the video, "but we do stop training."
Prevention is the only way to avoid an aerodynamic stall at low altitude. As crashes caused by these stalls are rarely survivable, any pilot, regardless of experience level, should be especially mindful of how complacency can affect decision-making. Stall recognition practice at a safe altitude is time well spent before you go hunting, and mindful awareness of aircraft performance while flying at low level is critical.
Contact Colleen Mondor at colleen(at)alaskadispatch.com