# NTSB ANC03LA018: Piper PA-18-105, N325T, Palmer, AK, December 18, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 18, 2002, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Palmer, AK - Coordinates: 61.25, -148.550003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2500&lon=-148.5500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56221 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56221/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA018 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, and his failure to achieve takeoff speed which resulted in an on ground collision with a ditch. Contributing factors were soft and snow-covered terrain, and a ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - roll/run - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - lift-off - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - snow covered (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The solo private pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, from the remote off airport site, the landing gear tires dug into the soft snow, and the airplane would not accelerate. The airplane subsequently collided with a ditch at the departure end of the site, and both main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On December 18, 2002, about 1100 Alaska standard time, a tundra-tire equipped Piper PA-18-105 airplane, N325T, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a ditch during takeoff from a remote off airport site, located about 25 miles southeast of Palmer, 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 destined for a private airstrip located in Wasilla, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on December 19, the pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the landing gear tires dug into the soft snow, and the airplane would not accelerate. The airplane subsequently collided with a ditch at the departure end of the site, and both main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N325T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N325T-2021-01-09), registration cancelled 2021-01-09, S/N 18-2439 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-105 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-105-special) (registry code 7101808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2439 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bennett J. Drew - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2002 - Departed: PAQ, Palmer, AK - Destination: WAS, Wasilla, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 250 total, 65 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Temperature: 10 °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 20021218034009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021218034009A), Dec 18, 2002: Piper PA18105SPEC, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Mr. Drew, said that he had landed at this strip several times in the past. On the day of the accident he noticed the roll out was very short. He decided… 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.