# NTSB ANC07TA093: Piper PA-18-150, N2355H, Valdez, AK, September 3, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: September 3, 2007, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Valdez, AK - Coordinates: 61.4544444444444, -145.703888888889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4544&lon=-145.7039&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 66591 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07TA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66591/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07TA093 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff. A factor contributing to the accident was an inadvertent stall/mush. ## 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 - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - short runway/landing area - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The commercial certificated State Trooper pilot reported he was on an aerial patrol when he landed to survey an off airport landing site. Upon completion of the survey, he said he attempted a short field takeoff, and as he approached rising terrain after becoming airborne, he applied a second notch of flaps. He said he applied forward pressure to maintain level flight, but the airplane descended, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2007, about 1545 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N2355H, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain, following an uncontrolled descent during takeoff initial climb from an unimproved, off-airport landing site, about 27 miles northeast of Valdez, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the State of Alaska, Department of Public Safety, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) public use flight, when the accident occurred. The solo commercial certificated pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on September 5, a supervisor for the operator said the pilot told him that during takeoff, after climbing out of ground effect, the airplane lost lift and descended. He reported to the supervisor that the left wing caught in willows and impacted the ground. The pilot reported damage to both wings and the fuselage. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was doing routine aerial patrol looking for illegal hunters. He said part of the patrol included surveying off airport landing sites. He reported that he landed to survey a site, and upon completion of the survey he attempted a short field takeoff. He said after becoming airborne he was approaching ascending terrain, and applied a second notch of flaps. He said he applied forward pressure to maintain level flight, but the airplane descended, and the left wing struck the ground. The airplane was not examined by the NTSB. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2355H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2355H), registered now, S/N 18-7909175, built 1979 (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: 18-7909175 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Part 91 - Operator: State of Alaska - Registered owner: State of Alaska - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Valdez, AK - Destination: Valdez, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 2,143 total, 235 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg ## 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 20070903020969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070903020969A), Sep 3, 2007: Piper PA18150, Valdez, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot indicated that he landed on an off airport strip and had experienced an overly bumpy landing roll out. Careful examination of the off airport… ## Other investigations on N2355H (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 ANC97TA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97TA152), Sep 18, 1997: Piper PA-18 (N2355H), Coldfoot, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The overservicing/pressurizing of the hydraulic brake system by maintenance personnel that locked the brake system and prevented directional control. 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.