# Accident 19990618007209A: Piper PA14, Skwentna, AK, June 18, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: June 18, 1999, 20:00 local time - Place: Skwentna, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.9306° N, 151.7300° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9306&lon=-151.7300&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4292H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4292H) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-14 (registry code 7101402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-14) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA14 - Reported engine: LYC O360A3A - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 232 total, 226 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA078) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990618007209A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACFT CRASHED ON TAKE-OFF AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (FROM .19) ON JUNE 18, 1999, ABOUT 2000 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED PIPER PA-14 AIRPLANE, N4292H, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING TAKEOFF FROM AN OFF AIRPORT SITE LOCATED ABOUT 15 MILES WEST OF SKWENTNA, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14, CFR PART 91, WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND THE ONE PASSENGER ABOARD WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS LEFT WITH A FAMILY MEMBER. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE FLYING CROWN AIRSTRIP, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, ABOUT 1600. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE ON JUNE 19, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING A NORTHWESTERLY DEPARTURE FROM AN 800 FEET LONG GRASS-COVERED AIRSTRIP. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, MIDWAY DOWN THE AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRES CONTACTED TALL GRASS. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK A STAND OF TREES THAT BORDERS THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED 180 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. (-23) THE AIRMAN WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM A 800 FOOT GRASS-COVERED REMOTE LANDING STRIP. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, DOWN THE AIRSTRIP, AT APPROXIMATELY 2 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANES LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE TOPS OF SOME 3 FOOT BRUSH. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT, AND THE LEFTWING STRUCK SOME TREES THAT BORDER THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRMAN REDUCED THE POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND PIVOTING 180 DEGREES COLLAPSING THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING, AND RIGHT ELEVATOR STRUCK THE GROUND CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED AND THE PILOT REPORTED NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. (.4) THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS DEPARTING FROM AN 800 FEET LONG GRASS-COVERED AIRSTRIP. HE STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, MIDWAY DOWN THE AIRSTRIP, THE AIRPLANE'S MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRES CONTACTED TALL GRASS. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK A STAND OF TREES TH AT BORDERS THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRPLANE PIVOTED 180 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, AND THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, AND SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THERE WERE NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRPLANE. ## 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 ANC99LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA078), Jun 19, 1999: Piper PA-14 (N4292H), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area. A factor associated with the accident was high vegetation. ## Other reports on N4292H (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 19910912048619I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910912048619I), Sep 12, 1991: Piper PA14 (N4292H), Kotzebue, AK, Minor damage. On landing rollout aircraft nosed up. Stick travel restricted by seat in full forward position. - [Accident 19850706029769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850706029769A), Jul 6, 1985: Piper STCPA14 (N4292H), Anchorage, AK, Destroyed. Aircraft was unable to climb over trees after takeoff from lake. Settled in trees and impacted ground. Small fire. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.