# NTSB ANC04CA119: Piper PA-28-181, N3002T, Haines, AK, September 29, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 28, 2004, 17:45 local (Sep 29, 2004, 01:45 UTC) - Place: Haines, AK - Coordinates: 59.243888, -135.523605 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.2439&lon=-135.5236&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 60273 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04CA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60273/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04CA119 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a premature liftoff and subsequent uncontrolled descent and collision with the runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - lift-off - premature (cause) - weather condition - gusts - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway - landing gear,main gear - separation ## Analysis The commercial pilot of the VFR positioning flight reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane rapidly and prematurely became airborne and began to yaw right. It began to descend rapidly, and continued to yaw. The airplane bounced on the runway and became airborne again. The pilot climbed to about 1,200 feet, where he noticed damage to the top of the left wing. He elected to fly the airplane to the destination airport where maintenance and other services were available. About 10 miles from the departure airport, the left main landing gear partially separated from the wing, and remained attached only by the hydraulic brake line. The pilot returned to the departure airport and landed. The pilot said during the takeoff the winds were variable from 070 degrees to 130 degrees at 15-20 knots with gusts from 25-30 knots. There were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. The FAA airworthiness inspector who examined the airplane said that during the bounced takeoff the left main landing gear attachments were sheered from the wing spar, and that during the subsequent emergency landing the outboard left wing section and aileron were damaged. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 2004, about 1745 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181 airplane, N3002T, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the runway and damaged the left wing and landing gear, following a premature liftoff and uncontrolled descent at the Haines Airport, Haines, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by L A B Flying Service Inc., Haines, as a visual flight rules (VFR) positioning 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 company VFR flight following procedures were in effect. The flight was bound for Juneau, Alaska. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) received October 14, the pilot wrote that during the takeoff roll, "the aircraft rapidly and prematurely became airborne and began to yaw right. Then just as quickly, it began to descend rapidly, while continuing to yaw." He reported that the airplane bounced and became airborne again. He said he continued to climb to about 1,200 feet, where he noticed damage to the top of the left wing. He reported he elected to fly the airplane to Juneau, where maintenance and other services were available. About 10 miles from the departure airport, he reported the left main landing gear separated from the airplane. Attached by only the hydraulic brake line, the gear leg began beating on the fuselage and wing. He said he returned to the departure airport and landed. The pilot said that during takeoff the winds were variable from 070 degrees to 130 degrees at 15-20 knots, with gusts from 25-30 knots. He said company policy calls for 10 degrees flaps for all takeoffs, but he wrote, "that may not be the best procedure for light weight, high wind takeoffs." He further wrote that there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on September 29, the FAA airworthiness inspector who examined the airplane, said during the bounced takeoff the left main landing gear attachments were sheered from the wing spar, and that during the subsequent emergency landing the outboard left wing section and aileron were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3002T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3002T-2020-10-31), registration cancelled 2020-10-31, S/N 28-7990320, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7990320 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Lab, doing business as Lab - Registered owner: L & A Bennett Fourth Family Limited Partnership - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Departed: Haines, AK - Destination: PAJN, Juneau, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 1,200 total, 140 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 105 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040928024149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040928024149A), Sep 28, 2004: Piper PA28181, Haines, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) As the aircraft accelerated for takeoff the pilot applied light backpressure on the elevator controls. The aircraft became airborne abruptly and then… 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.