# NTSB ANC06LA014: Taylorcraft F-19, N3615T, Chenga Bay, AK, December 22, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 22, 2005, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Chenga Bay, AK - Coordinates: 60.01889, -147.385833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0189&lon=-147.3858&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 62995 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC06LA014 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62995/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06LA014 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance during takeoff initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees, and subsequent collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was departing from a remote area on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. During the initial climb, the airplane drifted to the left, and the left wing collided with trees about 20 feet above the ground. The airplane pivoted to the left, and descended nose down to the ground. A postaccident fire further damaged the airplane. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure. ## Factual narrative On December 22, 2005, about 1300 Alaska Standard time, a wheel-equipped Taylorcraft F-19 airplane, N3615T, sustained substantial damage by impact and postimpact fire when it collided with trees during takeoff initial climb from a remote area on Montague Island, located about 18.5 miles east of Chenega Bay, 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, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the pilot's intended destination of Seward, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on December 27, the pilot reported that he landed on the eastern shore of Montague Island on December 20, near a cabin at Beach River, to retrieve hunting equipment left there from a previous trip. He left his itinerary with his spouse, and had a satellite telephone for communication. He was unable to get his satellite phone to work, and he was subsequently reported overdue to the Federal Aviation Administration on December 22. Search aircraft from the U.S. Coast Guard spotted the pilot and his airplane on Montague Island on December 22, as he was leaving to check the weather conditions toward Seward, Alaska. The Coast Guard then departed the area. The pilot stated that after his initial flight to check the visibility on December 22, he landed and packed his hunting equipment and prepared to depart a second time. The pilot indicated that the weather conditions at the time consisted of a broken ceiling about 1,000 feet, with a visibility of about 3 miles. He departed toward the southwest from an area that was about 950 feet long, and 50 feet wide. He reported that during the initial climb, the airplane drifted to the left, and the left wing collided with trees about 20 feet above the ground. The airplane pivoted to the left, and descended nose down to the ground. A postaccident fire further damaged the airplane. The pilot said he received minor injuries to his face and nose. He returned to the cabin and waited until a Coast Guard helicopter picked him up on December 23. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3615T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3615T-2008-10-14), registration cancelled 2008-10-14, S/N F-068, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taylorcraft F-19 - Registry model: [Taylorcraft F19](https://openairdocs.org/model/taylorcraft-f19) (registry code 8850904) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: F-068 - Airframe hours: 1837 - Engines: Lycoming O-290D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Duane F. Richards - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2005, 22 hours before - Departed: Chenga Bay, AK - Destination: PAWD, Seward, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,081 total, 61 in this make and model, 1,081 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °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 20051222030709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051222030709A), Dec 22, 2005: Tcraft F19, Seward, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot was operating from a beach strip on montague island and had landed there on December 20, 2005, to retrieve hunting equipment from a previous… ## Other investigations on N3615T (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC80DAG88](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG88), Aug 1, 1980: Taylorcraft F19 (N3615T), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage 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.