# NTSB ANC03LA060: Longren Centaur L-13, N4062H, Chickaloon, AK, June 14, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 13, 2003, 20:30 local (Jun 14, 2003, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Chickaloon, AK
- Coordinates: 61.75, -147.75
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7500&lon=-147.7500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57222/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA060

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power during the takeoff initial climb for an undetermined reason, which resulted in an in-flight collision with water.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - downdraft
- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

The pilot waited on a gravel airstrip for a thunderstorm and associated rain to pass before attempting to takeoff.  In a telephone interview the day after the accident, the pilot said that during the takeoff roll, the winds were calm, but during the initial climb, the airplane encountered a downdraft and descended, touching down on a sandbar in a river adjacent to the airstrip.  The airplane started to climb again, but was forced down by another downdraft.  The airplane touched down on another sandbar, and after a third attempt to climb, was forced down into the river, where it nosed over.  In a subsequent written statement, the pilot wrote "in retrospect, it appears there was a mysterious loss of power."  He further noted in his written statement "that two witnesses stated there was little or no wind, and that the airplane sounded like a normally powered takeoff, but the sound quickly dwindled, as if the throttle was pulled back to abort the takeoff."

## Factual narrative

On June 13, 2003, about 2030 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Longren Centaur L-13 airplane, N4062H, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during takeoff from a private gravel airstrip, about 30 miles east of Chickaloon, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The commercial pilot and sole passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.  The flight was bound for another airstrip at Chickaloon.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on June 14, the pilot said he waited on the gravel airstrip for a thunderstorm and associated rain to pass. He said when he started the takeoff roll, the winds were calm, but during the initial climb, the airplane encountered a downdraft and descended, touching down on a sandbar in a river adjacent to the airstrip.  The airplane started to climb again, but was forced down by another downdraft.  The pilot said the airplane touched down on another sandbar, and after a third attempt to climb, was forced down into the river where it nosed over.  The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

In a written statement to the IIC received on June 23, the pilot wrote "in retrospect, it appears there was a mysterious loss of power."  He further noted in his written statement that "two witnesses stated there was little or no wind, and that the airplane sounded like a normally powered takeoff, but the sound quickly dwindled, as if the throttle was pulled back to abort the takeoff."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4062H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4062H), registered now, S/N 472903 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Longren Centaur L-13
- Registry model: [Centaur 101 LONGREN L-13](https://openairdocs.org/model/centaur-101-longren-l-13) (registry code 2000104) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47-2903
- Airframe hours: 756
- Engines: Lycoming R680E3 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Ben Stevenson
- Registered owner: Bush Wings Air Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 2003, 50 hours before
- Departed: Chickaloon, AK
- Destination: Chickaloon, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 25, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,420 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °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 20030613012279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030613012279A), Jun 13, 2003: Mitchl 101MITCHL, Chickaloon, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot, after takeoff, the aircraft settled back to the ground, bounced, blowing a tire and flipped over.

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.

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