# NTSB ANC05CA105: Jeska Murphy Rebel, N7478T, Kivalina, AK, July 23, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 23, 2005, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Kivalina, AK
- Coordinates: 67.803337, -164.089996
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.8033&lon=-164.0900&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 December 20, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62052
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62052/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA105

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during takeoff-initial climb, which resulted in a stall and collision with a ditch.  A factor contributing to the accident was the ditch.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - airspeed(vs) - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

The private certificated pilot was departing a gravel bar that was about 900 feet long.  During the takeoff run, the airplane lifted off, and then settled slightly. The main landing gear tires collided with the lip of a ditch, shearing off the main gear.  The airplane then skidded on the gravel surface for about 25 feet.  The airplane received structural damage to the fuselage, and the main landing gear attach points.

## Factual narrative

On July 23, 2005, about 1000 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped homebuilt experimental Jeska Murphy Rebel airplane, N7478T, sustained substantial damage when the landing gear struck a ditch during takeoff initial climb from a remote gravel bar on the Wulik River, about 12 miles east of Kivalina, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred.  The airplane was operated by the pilot.  The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight was en route to Noatak, Alaska, and no flight plan was filed, nor was one required.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 25, the pilot reported that he was departing a gravel bar that was about 900 feet long.  During the takeoff, the airplane lifted off, and then settled slightly. The main landing gear tires collided with the lip of a ditch, shearing off the main gear.  The airplane then skidded on the gravel surface for about 25 feet.  The airplane received structural damage to the fuselage, and the main landing gear attach points.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7478T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7478T), registered now, S/N 088 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Jeska Murphy Rebel
- Registry model: [Jeska Clifford MURPHY REBEL](https://openairdocs.org/model/jeska-clifford-murphy-rebel) (registry code 05620UE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 088
- Airframe hours: 249
- Engines: Lycoming O-235-C1 115 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Clifford L. Jeska
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2005, 39 hours before
- Departed: Kivalina, AK
- Destination: Noatak, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; seat: left; flight hours: 392 total, 249 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 135° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °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 20050723017459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050723017459A), Jul 23, 2005: Jeska MURPHYREBEL, Kivalina, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] on July 23, 2005, at approximately 1355 local time, N7478T struck an object after takeoff from a gravel bar 12 miles up the wulik…

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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