# NTSB ANC03LA027: Piper PA-18-150, N4492A, Soldotna, AK, February 11, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 11, 2003, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK - Coordinates: 60.476112, -151.032501 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4761&lon=-151.0325&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage, FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 56484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56484/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56484 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA027 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in a nose over. A factor contributing to the accident was standing puddles of water on the frozen lake. ## Analysis The pilot said that prior to takeoff he walked a large portion of the frozen lake to check its suitability for use. He said although recent rain left about 2 inches of standing water on the ice-covered surface of the lake, he felt the lake was suitable for takeoff. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll, the tail lifted and transferred the weight of the airplane to the main landing gear. The main wheels then encountered water deeper than he expected, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received wing and lift strut damage during the accident. ## Factual narrative On February 11, 2003, about 1200 Alaska standard time, a wheel-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N4492A, sustained substantial damage when it encountered puddles of standing water during the takeoff roll, and nosed over on Longmare Lake, about 5 miles east of Soldotna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local 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. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on February 11, the pilot said that prior to takeoff he walked a large portion of the frozen lake to check its suitability for use. He said although recent rain left about 2 inches of standing water on the ice-covered surface of the lake, he felt the lake was suitable for takeoff. The pilot said during the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered standing water deeper than he expected. He said as the tail lifted and transferred the weight of the airplane to the main landing gear, the main wheels encountered deeper water, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane received wing and lift strut damage during the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - water,frozen - terrain condition - water (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, takeoff - roll/run ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4492A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4492A), registered now, S/N 18-4861, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - 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: 18-4861 - Airframe hours: 5402 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel L. Deraeve - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 22, 2002, 20 hours before - Departed: Soldotna, AK - Destination: Soldotna, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 27, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 317 total, 237 in this make and model, 227 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - 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 20030211002239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030211002239A), Feb 11, 2003: Piper PA18150, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) A wheel-equipped aircraft attempted to depart longmere lake at Soldotna and flipped over, causing substantial damage. The pilot stated that he was trying… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 20, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56484. 662 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 662 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183036&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.