# NTSB ANC07LA020: Piper PA-18-150, N5057Y, Gulkana, AK, February 13, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 13, 2007, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Gulkana, AK - Coordinates: 55.919418, -159.490966 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.9194&lon=-159.4910&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 65310 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65310/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA020 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during takeoff, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - roll/run - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - snow covered ## Analysis The pilot of the ski-equipped airplane was taking off on a snow-covered lake for a visual flight rules (VFR) local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said during takeoff he felt the airplane was not accelerating fast enough to climb over the trees at the end of the takeoff area. He closed the throttle to abort the takeoff, and the airplane slid into the trees. He said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane during earlier flights that day, but he felt the engine may not have been producing full power during the accident takeoff. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The airplane was not examined by the NTSB, and the pilot did not provide additional information regarding what may have precipitated the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On February 13, 2007, about 1530 Alaska standard time, a ski-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N5057Y, sustained substantial damage during a collision with trees, following a partial loss of engine power and an aborted takeoff, about 41 miles northeast of Gulkana, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal local flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on February 16, the pilot stated he was taking off on a snow-covered lake when he felt the airplane was not accelerating fast enough to climb over the trees at the end of the takeoff area. He said he closed the throttle, and aborted the takeoff. The pilot said the airplane slid into the trees. He said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane during earlier flights that day, but he felt the engine may not have been producing full power during the accident takeoff. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The airplane was not examined by the NTSB, and the pilot did not provide additional information regarding what may have precipitated the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5057Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5057Y), registered now, S/N 18-7890, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-7890 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard A. Kinmon - Registered owner: Richard Kinmon - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2006 - Departed: Gulkana, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 600 total, 250 in this make and model, 560 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °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 20070213002189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070213002189A), Feb 13, 2007: Piper PA18150, Glennallen, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was departing grizzly lake, about 60 miles nw of Glennallen, AK, in his ski-equipped PA-18. The weather was clear skies and light and variable… ## Other investigations on N5057Y (2) 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 ANC19LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA053), Sep 5, 2019: Piper PA18 (N5057Y), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: One of the pilot’s inadvertent application of the airplane's brakes, which resulted in a nose over. - [NTSB ANC05LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05LA009), Oct 17, 2004: Piper PA-18 (N5057Y), Chickaloon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in a collision with terrrain during the landing roll. Factors contributing to the accident were a rough/rutted and… 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.