# NTSB ANC08LA039: Piper PA-18-150, N985W, Nikolai, AK, March 4, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 2008, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Nikolai, AK - Coordinates: 62.533332, -153.616668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.5333&lon=-153.6167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage, FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 67622 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67622/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA039 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions. Contributing to the accident was an inadvertent stall/mush. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial certificated flight instructor was providing wilderness flying instruction to a private certificated student pilot. The student pilot said that he and the instructor were in the lead airplane of a flight of three. He said they were departing from a frozen lake, and that the takeoff area was mostly glare ice. The wind was gusting heavily, and the other two airplanes taxied out first. Both airplanes lost control, and spun into the wind. Since the others were having trouble maintaining directional control, the instructor told him to taxi to the center of the lake. He said he suggested taxiing farther down the lake to give them more takeoff length, but the instructor said no. The student pointed the airplane toward the lowest point in the hills surrounding the lake, and applied takeoff power. When the airplane reached flying speed, he pulled in full flaps as instructed. Approaching the hills they encountered gusts and downdrafts, the climb rate declined, and the instructor took the controls. The student asked if he should reduce the flaps, which were full down, and the instructor said no. The instructor turned the airplane to the left to avoid hitting the lodge. The airplane settled into the trees, and collided with a structure, receiving substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2008, about 1030 Alaska standard time, a ski-equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N985W, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control and impact with trees and a building during takeoff initial climb, about 41 miles southeast of Nikolai, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Alaska Cub Training Specialist LLC, Palmer, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) instructional flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated flight instructor, and the private certificated student pilot, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was departing on a frozen lake. In a written statement dated March 25, the student pilot wrote that he had contracted with Alaska Cub Training Specialist to provide wilderness flight training, while following the Iditarod sled dog race. He reported that they had not flown for several days due to high winds, and that on the morning of the accident, the wind was still high and gusting. He stated he and his instructor were the lead airplane in a flight of three, and that due to the sun and wind, most of the snow was gone from the lake's surface, and the takeoff area was mostly glare ice. He said the other two airplanes taxied out first, and both lost control, and spun into the wind due to gusting conditions. He said since the other airplanes were having trouble maintaining control while taxiing, his instructor told him to taxi to the center of the lake. He said he suggested taxiing farther down the lake to give them more takeoff length, but the instructor said no. The student said he was on the controls, and pointed the airplane toward the lowest point in the hills surrounding the lake. The lowest point was also the location of the lodge. When he reached flying speed, he pulled in full flaps as instructed, and after becoming airborne, the airplane settled back to the surface, and then began to climb. He said as they approached the hills, the climb rate declined as they encountered gusts and downdrafts. He reported that the instructor took the controls, and as they approached the rising terrain, he asked if he should reduce the flaps, which were full down. The instructor said no, and began a left turn to avoid hitting the lodge. He said the airplane settled into the trees, and collided with the wash house. He stated that the airplane sustained damage to the fuselage and both wings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N985W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N985W), registered now, S/N 18-7609, built 1961 (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: 18-7609 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Alaska Cub Training Specialist LLC, doing business as Alaska Cub Training Specialist - Registered owner: Knik Glacier Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2008 - Departed: Nikolia, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,200 total, 600 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 48; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 400 total, 20 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 25 knots, gusting 35 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 30 °F ## Other investigations on N985W (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 ANC15LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA035), Jun 4, 2015: Piper PA 18-150 (N985W), McCarthy, AK, minor damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to ensure adequate clearance from the spinning propeller while traversing the area between the leading edge of the wing and the nose of the airplane. Contributing to the accident… 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.