# Accident 20210909017989A: Aeronca 15AC, North Pole, AK, September 9, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 9, 2021, 20:00 local time
- Place: North Pole, AK
- Airport: Airway
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 64.7745° N, 147.3391° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7745&lon=-147.3391&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1441H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1441H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca 15AC (registry code 0191202, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-15ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C145 series (registry code 17012, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERONCA 15AC
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC21LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA087) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210909017989A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED HE WAS DOING A TOUCH AND GO ON THE FLOAT POND TO THE SOUTH OF 5AK3.  CONTACT WITH THE WATER WAS MADE AT ABOUT 1600 FEET DOWN THE POND THAT IS ABOUT 2500 FEET LONG.  THE WATER WAS CALM AND GLASSY AT THE TIME.  AFTER CONTACT WITH WATER WAS MADE HE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN HIS CLIMB OUT WITH EVERYTHING APPEARING NORMAL.  THE PILOT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AT THE END OF THE FLOAT POND/BEGINNING OF THE RUNWAY AND CONTACTED A TREE THAT WAS ABOUT A 150 FEET FROM THE END OF THE FLOAT POND AND AN ESTIMATED 80 FEET TALL.  THE CENTER LINE OF THE FLOAT POND IS ABOUT 50 FEET TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER LINE OF THE RUNWAY.  THE TREES ARE LOCATED ABOUT 30 FEET TO THE EAST OF THE FLOAT POND CENTERLINE.   THE RIGHT WING WAS THE FIRST PART OF THE AIRCRAFT TO HIT THE TREE AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIT ANOTHER TREE THAT TOOK OUT THE WINDSHIELD.  AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RETURN TO LAND AT THE FLOAT POND.  DURING THIS ATTEMPT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND LANDED IN THE TREES AND POWER LINE.

## 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 ANC21LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA087), Sep 10, 2021: Aeronca 15AC (N1441H), North Pole, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure adequate obstacle clearance while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with a tree and a loss of control.

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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