- Date
- December 5, 1999, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Skwentna, AK
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3719TTaylorcraft F-19
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 4, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Case key
- 48512
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing/takeoff area. Factors associated with the accident were snow-covered terrain, and a tree.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The certificated private pilot was attempting to do a touch-and-go landing on a snow-covered airstrip. He stated that just after touchdown, he realized that the snow was deeper than anticipated, and he applied full power. In his written report to the NTSB, the pilot wrote: 'On takeoff, with soft snow creating additional drag, I had trouble attaining a comfortable takeoff speed. After lift-off, my ski hit a spruce tree, and I stalled.' The airplane nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and rudder. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On December 5, 1999, about 1530 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Taylorcraft F-19 airplane, N3719T, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote airstrip, about 18 miles southwest of Skwentna, Alaska, at 61 degrees 40 minutes north latitude, 151 degrees 23 minutes west longitude. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The certificated private pilot received serious injuries, and the sole passenger aboard received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Lake Hood, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1415.
The pilot submitted a written report to the NTSB dated December 19. In his written report, the pilot indicated that he was attempting to do a touch-and-go landing on a snow-covered airstrip, before continuing on to his destination. He stated that just after touchdown, he realized that the snow was deeper than anticipated, and he applied full power. He wrote: "On takeoff, with soft snow creating additional drag, I had trouble attaining a comfortable takeoff speed. After lift-off, my ski hit a spruce tree, and I stalled." The airplane nosed over, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and rudder.
The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3719T
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft F-19
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- F-110
- Airframe hours
- 1,023
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James W. Dawson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 1, 1999 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- LHD · Anchorage, AK
- Airport
- runway 27, 850 × 50 ft, snow
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 111 total · 19 in this make and model · 51 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 16 °F