GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NTSB REPORT: ANC00LA013
Data Source |
NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE |
NTSB Report Nbr |
ANC00LA013 |
Event Id |
20001212X20062 |
Local Date |
11/15/1999 |
Local Time |
1206 |
State |
AK |
Airport Name |
FOUR CORNERS |
Event Type |
ACCIDENT |
Injury Severity |
NONE |
Record Status |
FINAL |
Mid Air Collision |
NO |
Event Location |
ON AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP |
WEATHER INFORMATION
Weather Briefing Complete |
FULL |
Basic Weather Conditions |
VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL COND |
Light Condition |
DAY |
Cloud Condition |
CLEAR |
Cloud Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
Ceiling Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
Cloud Type |
NONE |
Visibility RVR (ft) |
0 |
Visibility RVV (sm) |
0 |
Visibility (sm) |
10 |
Wind Direction (deg) |
40 |
Wind Condition Flag |
U |
Wind Speed (knots) |
13 |
Wind Condition Indicated |
Unknown |
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Aircraft 1
Type of Operation |
PART 91: GENERAL AVIATION |
Registration Number |
N5657A |
Aircraft Make |
MAULE |
Aircraft Model |
M7 |
Aircraft Series |
235C |
Aircraft Damage |
SUBSTANTIAL |
Aircraft Fire |
NONE |
Aircraft Explosion |
NONE |
Aircraft Type |
AIRPLANE |
Aircraft Homebuilt |
UNKNOWN |
Phase of Flight |
TAKEOFF |
Aircraft Use |
PERSONAL |
Flight Plan Filed |
VFR |
Operator Name |
|
Operator Doing Business As |
|
Owner Name |
GEORGE E. PALMER |
Number of Seats |
4 |
Number of Engines |
1 |
ELT Installed |
YES |
ELT Operated |
YES |
Departure Airport Id |
14AK |
Departure City |
|
Last Departure Point |
YES |
Destination Airport Id |
|
Destination City |
MYSTIC LAKE |
Destination State |
ALASKA |
Runway Id |
36 |
Runway Length |
1500 |
Runway Width |
100 |
Air Carrier Operating Certificates |
NO |
Air Carrier Other Operating Certificates |
UNKNOWN |
Rotocraft/Agriculture Operating Certificate |
UNKNOWN |
Cert Max Gross Wgt |
2500 |
ENGINE INFORMATION
Aircraft 1 - Engine : #1
Engine Manufactuer
| Lycoming |
Engine Model
| IO-540-W1A5D |
Engine Horsepower
| 235 |
Engine Thrust
| HP |
Carb/Injection
| FUEL INJECTED |
INJURY INFORMATION
Injury Summary for Aircraft 1
|
Fatal |
Serious |
Minor |
None |
Crew |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Pass |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
Sequence of Events for Aircraft 1
Occurrence #1 IN FLIGHT ENCOUNTER WITH WEATHER
Phase of Operation: TAKEOFF - INITIAL CLIMB
Events Sequence for Occurrence #1 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
1 |
1 |
WEATHER CONDITION |
CROSSWIND |
|
FACTOR |
2 |
1 |
WEATHER CONDITION |
GUSTS |
|
FACTOR |
3 |
1 |
WEATHER CONDITION |
DOWNDRAFT |
|
FACTOR |
4 |
2 |
FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER |
INTENTIONAL |
PILOT IN COMMAND |
CAUSE |
Occurrence #2 IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT
Phase of Operation: DESCENT - UNCONTROLLED
Events Sequence for Occurrence #2 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
5 |
1 |
OBJECT |
TREE(S) |
|
|
AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT
On November 15, 1999, at 1206 Alaska standard time, a Maule M7-235C airplane, N5657A, sustained substantial damage when it contacted trees during takeoff from the Four Corners airstrip, Palmer, Alaska, at 61 degrees 36 minutes north latitude, 149 degrees 28 minutes west longitude. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a business flight to the pilot's hunting lodge. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR flight plan was filed.
During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on November 15, the owner of the 1,500 feet long by 100 feet wide airstrip, who witnessed the accident, said winds and downdrafts were strong and gusty, and "rolling over the trees." The witness indicated that when the airplane became airborne, the wind pushed it to the left into the tops of the trees. He added the engine was operating until it struck trees.
During a telephone interview with the NTSB IIC on November 15, the pilot stated that after warming up the airplane, he waited for a lull in the wind to begin the takeoff roll to the north. The airplane came off the ground about 400 feet into the takeoff roll, earlier than he expected. He said that when the airplane climbed to the level of the tree tops, the strong right crosswind required almost a 90 degree crab. He related that the winds were gusty, and he felt the airplane was on the edge of stalling. The left wing contacted trees, and the plane settled into the trees upright.
The automated weather observation from the New Wasilla Airport, Alaska, four miles west of Four Corners airstrip, at 1215, recorded winds from 040 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT
The pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff in gusty, crosswind conditions. Once airborne, he said the strong right crosswind required almost a 90 degree crab. He stated the left wing contacted the trees, and the plane settled into the trees upright. The owner of the 1,500 feet long by 100 feet wide, north-south airstrip, who witnessed the accident, said winds and downdrafts were strong, gusty, and 'rolling over the trees.' The witness said the right crosswind pushed the airplane into the trees. The weather observation from an airport four miles to the west recorded winds from 040 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT
The pilot's intentional takeoff into known adverse weather. Factors associated with this accident are crosswinds, gusts, and downdrafts.
END REPORT