# NTSB ANC01LA001: Piper PA-18-160, N59645, Naknek, AK, October 2, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 1, 2000, 19:00 local (Oct 2, 2000, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Naknek, AK - Coordinates: 58.800361, -156.900634 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.8004&lon=-156.9006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 51012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/51012/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA001 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area. Factors associated with the accident were wet and soft terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - wet (contributing factor) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - terrain condition - tundra - object - vehicle - object - building(nonresidential) ## Analysis The certificated commercial pilot started a southeasterly takeoff run on a 700 feet long airstrip. He added that the airplane's acceleration was slow due to wet, tundra-covered terrain. As the airplane neared the end of the airstrip, just before it became airborne, he turned the airplane to the left to avoid striking a truck parked at the end of the airstrip, and the left wing struck a cabin at the end of the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On October 1, 2000, about 1900 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N59645, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote airstrip, about 15 miles west of Naknek, Alaska, at 58 degrees, 43 minutes north latitude, 157 degrees, 01 minutes west longitude. The certificated commercial pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1750, from the Naknek Airport, Naknek. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on October 2, the pilot reported that as he started a southeasterly takeoff run on a 700 feet long remote airstrip, the airplane's acceleration was slow due to wet, tundra-covered terrain. He said that as he neared that end of the site, just before the airplane became airborne, he turned the airplane to the left to avoid striking a truck parked at the end of the airstrip, and the left wing struck a cabin at the end of the takeoff area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59645](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N59645-2022-11-05), registration cancelled 2022-11-05, S/N 18-7809095, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-160 - 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: 18-7809095 - Airframe hours: 4767 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: King Air, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 20, 2000, 27 hours before - Departed: 5NK, NAKNEK, AK - Destination: 5NK, NAKNEK, AK - Airport: runway 15, 700 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,900 total, 1,100 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 20 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast - 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 20001001041879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001001041879A), Oct 1, 2000: Piper PA18150, Naknek, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Roll out for takeoff, wet tundra, pax approx. 240 lbs., wind change at end of runway, aircraft hit building. ## Other investigations on N59645 (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 ANC90LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC90LA176), Sep 16, 1990: Piper PA-18-160 (N59645), Port Heiden, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL DURING A STRONG CROSSWIND. 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.