# Accident 20070923021679A: Piper J3C65, Tyonek, AK, September 23, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 23, 2007, 15:30 local time
- Place: Tyonek, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.0556° N, 151.2253° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0556&lon=-151.2253&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5050R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5050R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper J3C-65 (registry code 7100510, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C65
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 256 total, 240 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC07CA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA107) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070923021679A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT WHILE ON TAKEOFF FROM AN UNIMPROVED STRIP APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES WEST OF BELUGA LAKE. PILOT STATES HE HAD NOT ACHIEVED SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO LIFT THE TAILWHEEL OF THE CONVENTIONALLY GEARED AIRCRAFT (THEREFORE, LESS THAN 25 KNOTS) WHEN THE AIRCRAFT VEERED LEFT AND FLIPPED OVER ONTO ITS BACK. WIND WAS CALM, WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR, STRIP HAD APPARENTLY ONCE BEEN AN AIRFIELD ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT MAINTAINED. GROUND WAS DAMP AND HAD POCKETS OF "SOFT" SOIL. PILOT STATES THE WHEEL MAY HAVE SUNK IN A LITTLE IN ONE OF THE SOFT SPOTS - OTHERWISE HE DOESN'T KNOW WHY HE LOST CONTROL.

## 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 ANC07CA107](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA107), Sep 23, 2007: Piper J3 (N5050R), Tyonek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, which resulted in an encounter with soft terrain and a loss of control during the takeoff roll.

## Other reports on N5050R (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20250725009629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250725009629A), Jul 25, 2025: Piper J3C-65 (N5050R), Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Pilot doing touch and goes. Departed runway 19 on second touch and go, engine quit at approximitley 200 feet AGL, restarted momentarily, aircraft stalled and…
- [Accident 19770818031209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19770818031209A), Aug 18, 1977: Piper J3C65 (N5050R), ID, Substantial damage

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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