What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was departing grizzly lake, about 60 miles nw of Glennallen, AK, in his ski-equipped PA-18. The weather was clear skies and light and variable winds. The lake was the pilot's home base. He was very familiar with the performance requirements to operate there. This pilot had made this takeoff numerous times in the past years with heavier loads with no problem. Shortly after lift-off he realized the engine was not developing full power. He did not have enough power to outclimb the trees surrounding the lake. His only option was to land straight ahead into the trees. He did so, substantially damaging the aircraft but neither he nor his passenger sustained any injuries. The engine is being inspected for possible cause of reduced power. The pilot suspects malfunctioning carb heat control.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS DEPARTING GRIZZLY LAKE, ABOUT 60 MILES NW OF GLENNALLEN, AK, IN HIS SKI-EQUIPPED PA-18. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS. THE LAKE WAS THE PILOT'S HOME BASE. HE WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS TO OPERATE THERE. THIS PILOT HAD MADE THIS TAKEOFF NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST YEARS WITH HEAVIER LOADS WITH NO PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF HE REALIZED THE ENGINE WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER. HE DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO OUTCLIMB THE TREES SURROUNDING THE LAKE. HIS ONLY OPTION WAS TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD INTO THE TREES. HE DID SO, SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT BUT NEITHER HE NOR HIS PASSENGER SUSTAINED ANY INJURIES. THE ENGINE IS BEING INSPECTED FOR POSSIBLE CAUSE OF REDUCED POWER. THE PILOT SUSPECTS MALFUNCTIONING CARB HEAT CONTROL.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N5057Y · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.