# NTSB ANC02LA103: Piper PA-18, N7489D, Chickaloon, AK, August 24, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 23, 2002, 20:00 local (Aug 24, 2002, 04:00 UTC) - Place: Chickaloon, AK - Coordinates: 61.75, -148.566665 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7500&lon=-148.5667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55556 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55556/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA103 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from ground obstructions while taxiing. A factor contributing to the accident was excessive taxi speed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - object - tree(s) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - taxispeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had landed on a creek bed, and unloaded the passenger and supplies. He said he was taxiing for takeoff en route to retrieve another load of supplies, when his right wing struck a tree. He said the airplane spun sharply to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground. The pilot said he was probably taxiing too fast for the terrain conditions, and he had a tailwind. The left wing spar and landing gear of the airplane were damaged. ## Factual narrative On August 23, 2002, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7489D, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during taxi for takeoff at Carpenter Creek, 5 miles west of Chickaloon, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was bound for Wolf Lake, a private airstrip near Palmer, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 24, the pilot said he had just dropped off his hunting partner, and supplies at Carpenter Creek. He said he was taxiing for takeoff, en route to pick up more supplies at Wolf Lake, when the airplane's right wing struck a willow tree. He said the airplane spun sharply to the right, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The pilot said he thought he was probably taxiing too fast, and there was a tailwind. He reported the left wing struck the ground, and the spar was broken. The pilot said the airplane had no known mechanical anomalies prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7489D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7489D), registered now, S/N 18-5828, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5828 - Airframe hours: 3812 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles R. Kase - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 2002, 4 hours before - Departed: Chicaloon, AK - Destination: PAAQ, Palmer, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 25, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 1,184 total, 196 in this make and model, 1,184 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: PAAQ, 20 nm away ## 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 20020823026719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020823026719A), Aug 23, 2002: Piper PA18, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot described the accident per phone call with ASI this office. As the aircraft started its takeoff roll from a gravel strip near chickaloon Alaska, a… ## Other investigations on N7489D (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 MKC66F0094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC66F0094), Jul 17, 1965: Piper PA-18 (N7489D), Fremont, NE, 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.