# NTSB ANC07CA107: Piper J3, N5050R, Tyonek, AK, September 23, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 22, 2007, 19:00 local (Sep 23, 2007, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Tyonek, AK
- Coordinates: 61.055557, -151.22528
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0556&lon=-151.2253&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66762
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07CA107
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66762/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07CA107

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, which resulted in an encounter with soft terrain and a loss of control during the takeoff roll.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft
- Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run
- Nose over, takeoff - roll/run

## Analysis

The private certificated pilot was departing toward the east from a remote airstrip on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, local area flight.  The airstrip was about 600 feet long and about 15 feet wide.  During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported that the airplane's left main landing gear tire encountered soft conditions along the left edge of the airstrip.  The airplane pulled to the left and departed the left edge of the airstrip, collided with high brush, and overturned.  The airplane received structural damage to the left wing spar and the right wing lift strut.

## Factual narrative

The private certificated pilot was departing toward the east from a remote airstrip on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, local area flight.  The airstrip was about 600 feet long and about 15 feet wide.  During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported that the airplane's left main landing gear tire encountered soft conditions along the left edge of the airstrip.  The airplane pulled to the left and departed the left edge of the airstrip, collided with high brush, and overturned.  The airplane received structural damage to the left wing spar and the right wing lift strut.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5050R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5050R), registered now, S/N 15301, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper J3
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15301
- Engines: Lycoming O-235 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Donald J. Pohland
- Registered owner: Donald J. Pohland
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Tyonek, AK
- Airport: runway 09

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 257 total, 205 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 16 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 20070923021679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070923021679A), Sep 23, 2007: Piper J3C65, Tyonek, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot lost control of aircraft while on takeoff from an unimproved strip approximately 20 miles west of beluga lake. Pilot states he had not achieved…

## Other investigations on N5050R (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 ANC25FA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25FA079), Jul 25, 2025: Piper J3C-65 (N5050R), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

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.