# NTSB ANC00LA096: Piper PA-18, N7777D, Delta Junction, AK, August 9, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2000, 18:00 local (Aug 9, 2000, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Delta Junction, AK - Coordinates: 63.699588, -144.889617 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.6996&lon=-144.8896&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 49943 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49943/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA096 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation. Factors in the accident were an uphill takeoff, high vegetation, and a short runway area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - short runway/landing area (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was departing a small airstrip at a mining claim. The airstrip is oriented east/west, and is about 600 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a 6 to 10 degree slope. The pilot said the wind was blowing downhill, so he decided to take off toward the west, in an uphill direction. The wind was blowing from the west between 10 to 15 knots. The airplane lifted off, but at the end of the airstrip, the tires were only about 2 to 3 feet above the ground. The tires began skimming the tops of low bushes that surrounded the airstrip. The pilot said that the wind speed decreased, and the airplane contacted the ground and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the engine propeller, wings, and empennage. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2000, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7777D, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote airstrip, about 37 miles southwest of Delta Junction, Alaska, about latitude 63 degrees, 57 minutes north, and longitude 147 degrees, 05 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight to Delta Junction, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The commercial certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 9, 2000, the pilot reported that he was departing a small airstrip at a mining claim. The airstrip is oriented east/west, and is about 600 feet long and 20 feet wide, with a 6 to 10 degree slope. The pilot said the wind was blowing downhill, so he decided to take off toward the west, in an uphill direction. The wind was blowing from the west between 10 to 15 knots. The airplane lifted off, but at the end of the airstrip, the tires were only about 2 to 3 feet above the ground. The tires began skimming the tops of low bushes that surrounded the airstrip. The pilot said that the wind speed decreased, and the airplane contacted the ground and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the engine propeller, wings, and empennage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7777D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7777D), registered now, S/N 18-5962, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-5962 - Airframe hours: 3485 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jack R. Morris - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 2000, 70 hours before - Destination: D66, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,700 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,700 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000808010879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000808010879A), Aug 8, 2000: Piper PA18150, AK, No damage. (-23)[privacy data omitted] :pilot attempted a takeoff from his private 600 ft strip into the wind uphill slope, could not climb the terrain, aborted the… ## Other investigations on N7777D (2) 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 ANC25LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA108), Sep 17, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N7777D), Delta Junction, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an object during takeoff, which resulted in a collision and ground loop. Contributing was the pilot’s selection of an unsuitable takeoff area. - [NTSB ANC80DAG91](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG91), Aug 6, 1980: Piper PA-18 (N7777D), Kodiak, AK, substantial damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.