- Date
- August 14, 2006, 20:30 local (Aug 15, 2006, 04:30 UTC)
- Place
- Fairbanks, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5402HPiper PA-14
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Case key
- 64503
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 selection of an unsuitable off-airport site for takeoff, which resulted in an on-ground encounter with rough-uneven terrain, a loss of control, and a collision with small trees. Factors associated with the accident were the uneven terrain, and high vegetation.
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 private certificated pilot reported that he was attempting to takeoff in his tailwheel-equipped airplane from an off-airport site, when the right main landing gear wheel encountered a depression. The right wing subsequently dipped and struck a small tree. The pilot stated that he aborted the takeoff, but was unable to stop before overrunning the takeoff area and colliding with more small trees, which resulted in the collapse of the left landing gear, and the left wing striking the ground. He indicated that the airplane sustained structural damage to the landing gear, left wing, and elevators.
Factual narrative
The private certificated pilot reported he was attempting to takeoff in his tailwheel-equipped airplane from an off airport site, when the right main landing gear wheel encountered a depression. The right wing subsequently dipped and struck a small tree. The pilot stated he aborted the takeoff, but was unable to stop before overrunning the takeoff area and colliding with more small trees, which resulted in the collapse of the left landing gear, and the left wing striking the ground. He indicated the airplane sustained structural damage to the landing gear, left wing, and elevators.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5402H
- Reported as
- Piper PA-14
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 14-512
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A2A, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Fred Bast
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Fairbanks, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 62
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3
- Flight hours
- 3,200 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 3,175 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
Other investigations on N5402H · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.