# NTSB ANC00LA119: Piper PA-18, N9692P, Sleetmute, AK, September 11, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 2000, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Sleetmute, AK - Coordinates: 61.680923, -157.160202 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6809&lon=-157.1602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50991 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50991/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA119 ## Probable cause The loss of aircraft control precipitated by the pilot's inadvertent stall. Factors associated with the accident are the disengagement of the stabilizer trim system, which resulted in reduced aircraft control, an inadvertent stall by the pilot, and a large set of moose antlers attached to the left float, which disrupted the airflow over the stabilizer. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - flt control syst,stabilator trim - disengaged (contributing factor) - external load equipment - improper use of, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - reduced (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot said that immediately after takeoff, he had difficulty lowering the float-equipped airplane's nose. The airplane stalled and impacted the water. The pilot said he thought the elevator trim did not function. He also stated that there was a large moose rack tied to the left float. Postaccident inspection by two FAA inspectors revealed the stabilizer rear trim mechanism was in the neutral position and rotated freely. The rear stabilizer hinge was free to rotate. The stabilizer trim actuator handle in the cockpit was missing, and the actuator would only partially engage. The inspectors could not determine if the damage was preaccident or postaccident. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 2000, about 1100 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N9692P, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a lake about 16 miles southeast of Sleetmute, Alaska, at 61 degrees, 26 minutes north latitude, 156 degrees, 59 minutes west longitude. The commercial pilot was not injured. The single passenger received serious injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, by Anderson Wilderness Guide Service, Inc., of McComb, Michigan, as a hunter guide flight. The flight was departing for Sleetmute. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview on September 22, and in his NTSB pilot/operator report, that immediately after takeoff he had difficulty lowering the airplane's nose. He said that while attempting to return to the lake, the airplane stalled and impacted the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot said he thought the elevator trim did not function. He also stated that there was a large moose rack tied to the left float. Postaccident inspection of the airplane on October 17 by two FAA inspectors, after it had been recovered to Wolf Lake Airport, Alaska, revealed the stabilizer rear trim mechanism was in the neutral position and rotated freely. The rear stabilizer hinge was free to rotate. The stabilizer trim actuator handle in the cockpit was missing, and the actuator would only partially engage. The inspectors could not determine if the damage was preaccident or postaccident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9692P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9692P), registered now, S/N 18-7509036 (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: 18-7509036 - Airframe hours: 2500 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Anderson Wilderness Guide Svc - Registered owner: Anton Anderson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2000, 80 hours before - Destination: SLQ, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 1,400 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 39 °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 20000911042669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000911042669A), Sep 11, 2000: Piper PA18150, Cresent Lake, AK, Minor damage. (-23) On September 11, 2000, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane N9692P flipped upside down in lake and sustained substantial damage while attempting take-off, piloted… ## Other investigations on N9692P (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 ANC95LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA136), Aug 10, 1995: Piper PA-18 (N9692P), Aniak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED LANDING FLARE, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING AND OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR. - [NTSB DEN76FTM28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN76FTM28), Apr 24, 1976: Piper PA-18 (N9692P), Tooele, UT, 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.