GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NTSB REPORT: ANC00LA096
Data Source |
NTSB AVIATION ACCIDENT/INCIDENT DATABASE |
NTSB Report Nbr |
ANC00LA096 |
Event Id |
20001212X21629 |
Local Date |
08/08/2000 |
Local Time |
1800 |
State |
AK |
Event Type |
ACCIDENT |
Injury Severity |
NONE |
Record Status |
FINAL |
Mid Air Collision |
NO |
Event Location |
OFF AIRPORT/AIRSTRIP |
WEATHER INFORMATION
Weather Briefing Complete |
UNKNOWN |
Basic Weather Conditions |
VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL COND |
Light Condition |
DAY |
Cloud Condition |
PARTIAL OBSCURATION |
Cloud Height above Ground Level (ft) |
3000 |
Ceiling Height above Ground Level (ft) |
0 |
Cloud Type |
NONE |
Visibility RVR (ft) |
0 |
Visibility RVV (sm) |
0 |
Visibility (sm) |
20 |
Wind Direction (deg) |
270 |
Wind Condition Flag |
U |
Wind Speed (knots) |
10 |
Wind Condition Indicated |
Unknown |
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
Aircraft 1
Type of Operation |
PART 91: GENERAL AVIATION |
Registration Number |
N7777D |
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 |
JACK R. MORRIS |
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 |
D66 |
Destination City |
|
Destination State |
ALASKA |
Runway Id |
0 |
Air Carrier Operating Certificates |
YES |
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-B2B |
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 |
2 |
Sequence of Events for Aircraft 1
Occurrence #1 IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN/WATER
Phase of Operation: TAKEOFF
Events Sequence for Occurrence #1 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
1 |
1 |
TERRAIN CONDITION |
HIGH VEGETATION |
|
FACTOR |
2 |
2 |
PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION |
INADEQUATE |
PILOT IN COMMAND |
CAUSE |
3 |
1 |
TERRAIN CONDITION |
UPHILL |
|
FACTOR |
4 |
1 |
AIRPORT FACILITIES, RUNWAY/LANDING AREA CONDITION |
SHORT RUNWAY/LANDING AREA |
|
FACTOR |
Occurrence #2 NOSE OVER
Phase of Operation: TAKEOFF
Events Sequence for Occurrence #2 of Aircraft 1
Event Seq # |
Event Group Code |
Subject |
Modifier |
Personnel |
Cause/Factor |
AIRCRAFT 1 PRELIMINARY REPORT
On August 8, 2000, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7777D, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote airstrip, about 37 miles southwest of Delta Junction, Alaska, about latitude 63 degrees, 57 minutes north, and longitude 147 degrees, 05 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight to Delta Junction, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 9, 2000, the pilot reported that he was departing a small airstrip at a mining claim. The airstrip is oriented east/west, and is about 600 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a 6 to 10 degree slope. The pilot said the wind was blowing downhill, so he decided to take off toward the west, in an uphill direction. The wind was blowing from the west between 10 to 15 knots. The airplane lifted off, but at the end of the airstrip, the tires were only about 2 to 3 feet above the ground. The tires began skimming the tops of low bushes that surrounded the airstrip. The pilot said that the wind speed decreased, and the airplane contacted the ground and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the engine propeller, wings, and empennage.
AIRCRAFT 1 FINAL REPORT
The commercial certificated pilot was departing a small airstrip at a mining claim. The airstrip is oriented east/west, and is about 600 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a 6 to 10 degree slope. The pilot said the wind was blowing downhill, so he decided to take off toward the west, in an uphill direction. The wind was blowing from the west between 10 to 15 knots. The airplane lifted off, but at the end of the airstrip, the tires were only about 2 to 3 feet above the ground. The tires began skimming the tops of low bushes that surrounded the airstrip. The pilot said that the wind speed decreased, and the airplane contacted the ground and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the engine propeller, wings, and empennage.
AIRCRAFT 1 CAUSE REPORT
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation. Factors in the accident were an uphill takeoff, high vegetation, and a short runway area.
END REPORT