# Accident 20230208001129A: Piper PA-16, Soldotna, AK, February 8, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 8, 2023, 16:45 local time
- Place: Soldotna, AK
- Airport: Soldotna
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.4749° N, 151.0396° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4749&lon=-151.0396&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5987H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5987H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-16 (registry code 7101602, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-16
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 1,850 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA020) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230208001129A

## Narrative

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

ON 02/08/2023 PILOT TOOK OFF FROM PASX (SOLDOTNA, AK) AIRPORT FROM RWY 7 AT APPROX. 16:45 LOCAL. WHEN AT APPROXIMATELY 100-300 FEET AGL PILOT REDUCED POWER, AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE ABRUPTY QUIT, RESTARTED AND THEN QUIT AGAIN. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE LEFT TURN AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND LAND ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TAXIWAY APPROX 6 FEET BEFORE COMING TO REST IN A NEARBY SNOWBANK ON A HEADING OF APPROX. 360 DEGREES. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO PRE ACCIDENT MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE AIRPLANE THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION.

METAR PASX 090156Z AUTO 06003KT 10SM OVC065 M02/M08 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP123  T10171078 FZRANO

## 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 ANC23LA020](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA020), Feb 9, 2023: Piper PA-16 (N5987H), Soldotna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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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