# Accident 19980901022529A: Piper STCPA18, Anchorage, AK, September 1, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 1, 1998, 09:00 local time
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.1591° N, 149.9893° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1591&lon=-149.9893&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7279K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7279K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18 (registry code 7101802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER STCPA18
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 112 total, 41 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA135) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980901022529A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ACFT CRASHED ON TAKEOFF. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1998, ABOUT 0900, A WHEEL EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE, N7279K, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE, OFF AIRPORT SITE LOCATED ABOUT 22 MILES NORTHWEST OF ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE SOLO PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE LOCAL, 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT OPERATED IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE INTENDED DESTINATION WAS ANCHORAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD FLOWN TO THE ACCIDENT SITE THE DAY BEFORE TO HUNT DUCKS. HE SAID HE WAS UTILIZING AN UNIMPROVED SITE ABOUT 600 FEET IN LENGTH FOR TAKEOFF AND LANDING. ON THE ACCIDENT TAKEOFF, HE INDICATED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH. HE ESTIMATED THE WIND TO BE FROM THE EAST AT 6 TO 8 KNOTS. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE DRITED TO THE LEFT, AND WENT INTO THE ADJACENT UNDERGROWTH. THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRES SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK A LOG, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. (.4) THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE, OFF-AIRPORT SITE. HE ESTIMATED HIS TAKEOFF SITE TO BE 500 FEET LONG.  HE RELATED THAT THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AFTER APPROXIMATELY  300 FEET OF GROUND  ROLL, BUT SOON SETTLED TO THE GROUND, AND DRIFTED TO THE LEFT INTO UNDERGROWTH. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED ROUGH TERRAIN, AND NOSED OVER.  THE PILOT NOTED THERE WERE NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRPLANE.                                                                      (-23) DURING OFF AIRPORT TAKEOFF PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DUE TO CROSS WIND. AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO BRUSH AND HIT A LOG. THE UNIMPROVED SITE AND THE 600 FEET AVAILABLE FOR TAKEOFF WITH THE CROSSWIND OF 6 TO 8 KNOTS EXCEEDED PILOTS SKILL. PILOTS BASIC SKILL AND COMPETENCY WERE VERIFIED BY ANOTHER INSPECTOR PRIOR TO ACCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC98LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA135), Sep 1, 1998: Piper PA-18-150 (N7279K), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable area for takeoff. A factor associated with the accident is the pilot's premature liftoff.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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