GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NTSB REPORT: ANC00LA078
Data Source NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE
NTSB Report Nbr ANC00LA078
Event Id 20001212X21148
Local Date 06/24/2000
Local Time 1010
State AK
Airport Name RALPH WIEN MEMORIAL
Event Type ACCIDENT
Injury Severity NONE
Record Status FINAL
Mid Air Collision NO
Event Location ON AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP

WEATHER INFORMATION
Weather Briefing Complete UNKNOWN
Basic Weather Conditions VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL COND
Light Condition DAY
Cloud Condition SCATTERED
Cloud Height above Ground Level (ft) 12000
Ceiling Height above Ground Level (ft) 20000
Cloud Type BROKEN
Visibility RVR (ft) 0
Visibility RVV (sm) 0
Visibility (sm) 10
Wind Direction (deg) 172
Wind Condition Flag U
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Condition Indicated Unknown

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Aircraft 1
Type of Operation PART 91: GENERAL AVIATION
Registration Number N2413P
Aircraft Make PIPER
Aircraft Model PA18
Aircraft Series UNDESIGNATED SERIES
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 NONE
Operator Name
Operator Doing Business As
Owner Name EDWIN R. MEIER
Number of Seats 2
Number of Engines 1
ELT Installed YES
ELT Operated NO
Departure Airport Id
Departure City
Last Departure Point YES
Destination Local DEST & DEPARTURE SAME, ACCIDENT CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE
Destination Airport Id
Destination City
Runway Id 8
Runway Length 5900
Runway Width 150
Air Carrier Operating Certificates NO
Air Carrier Other Operating Certificates UNKNOWN
Rotocraft/Agriculture Operating Certificate UNKNOWN
Cert Max Gross Wgt 1750

ENGINE INFORMATION

Aircraft 1 - Engine : #1
Engine Manufactuer Lycoming
Engine Model O-320
Engine Horsepower 160
Engine Thrust HP
Carb/Injection CARBURETOR

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 3
Sequence of Events for Aircraft 1
Occurrence #1
LOSS OF CONTROL - ON GROUND/WATER
Phase of Operation: TAKEOFF - ROLL/RUN

Events Sequence for Occurrence #1 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # Event Group Code Subject Modifier Personnel Cause/Factor
1 2 DIRECTIONAL CONTROL NOT MAINTAINED PILOT IN COMMAND CAUSE

Occurrence #2
NOSE OVER
Phase of Operation: TAKEOFF - ROLL/RUN

Events Sequence for Occurrence #2 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # Event Group Code Subject Modifier Personnel Cause/Factor




AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT


On June 24, 2000, about 1010 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N2413P, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 24, the pilot reported he was departing on runway 08. He applied full power to begin the takeoff roll. The airplane veered to the left, ran off the left side of the runway, and nosed over. The pilot said the left main wheel brake assembly may have locked. He commented that he had flown the airplane numerous times in the past few days without any mechanical problems. The airplane received damage to both wings, fuselage, and the vertical stabilizer. On August 21, 2000, the pilot telephoned the NTSB IIC, and reported that he was unable to find a mechanical problem with the left main wheel brake assembly. The only mechanical problem appeared to be the tailwheel assembly thrust washers were dirty. At 1016, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Kotzebue was reporting, in part: Wind, 172 degrees (magnetic) at 8 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 12,000 feet scattered, 20,000 feet broken; temperature, 53 degrees F; dew point, 39 degrees F; altimeter, 30.02 inHg.

AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT


The private pilot was departing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He reported that when he applied full power to begin the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left, departed the runway, and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and the vertical stabilizer. The only mechanical problem the pilot noted was dirty thrust washers installed on the tailwheel assembly.

AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT


The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.


END REPORT