- Date
- August 17, 2003, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Tyonek, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2941MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20030817037159A
- Case key
- 57711
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for wind conditions and maintain aircraft control during the initial climb, which resulted in a loss of control and in-flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the accident are a crosswind and wind gusts.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported he was taking off in his tailwheel airplane from an off-airport site with a direct left crosswind of approximately 12 knots. Shortly after liftoff, a gust of wind pushed the airplane sideways and down. The pilot said he was unable to control or stop the descent, and the airplane collided with a log hidden in the brush. The airplane received structural damage to the fuselage and elevator.
Factual narrative
On August 17, 2003, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-12 airplane, N2941M, received substantial damage when it collided with terrain following a loss of control during takeoff from a remote, off-airport site, located about 12 miles north of Tyonek, Alaska. The Title 14, CFR Part 91 local personal flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The solo private pilot was not injured. The flight departed Lake Hood Strip, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1100, and was returning to Anchorage at the time of the accident.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 17 at 1820, the pilot related that he was attempting to takeoff to the west from an off-airport site adjacent to Olson Creek. He said there was a direct crosswind from the south about 12 knots, and that shortly after becoming airborne, a gust of wind pushed the airplane sideways and down. He reported he was unable to control or stop the descent, and the airplane collided with a log hidden in the brush, damaging the main landing gear, fuselage, and elevator.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2941M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-1338
- Airframe hours
- 3,653
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William C. Phalp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 9, 2002 · 16 hours before
- Departed
- Z41 · Anchorage, AK
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- May 15, 2003
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 610 total · 93 in this make and model · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- 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.