# NTSB ANC08LA075: Piper PA-18, N5408Y, Skwentna, AK, June 22, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 2008, 16:20 local (Jun 22, 2008, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Coordinates: 61.856666, -151.398895
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8567&lon=-151.3989&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 11, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03
- NTSB case key (mKey): 68292
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68292/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA075

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll and liftoff, which resulted in a collision with trees and the ground.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; 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)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 35 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: 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 pilot was departing from a remote airstrip that was about 2,000 feet long, and about 40 feet wide. He indicated that the center of the airstrip was gravel, with 8 inch-high grass along the edges. He said that during the takeoff roll and after the tailwheel came up, the airplane pulled to the right, possibly due to the right main landing gear encountering the grass edge. The airplane lifted off to about 15 feet while drifting to the right, and the right wingtip struck trees that were along the edge of the airstrip.

## Factual narrative

On June 21, 2008, about 1620 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N5408Y, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during takeoff initial climb from a remote airstrip, about 2.5 miles south-southwest of Skwentna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot received serious injuries; the sole passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was en route to Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 23, the pilot reported that he was departing to the west from the Tal River Lodge, located on the Talachulitna River. The airstrip was oriented east/west, and was about 2,000 feet long, and about 40 feet wide. The pilot indicated that the center of the airstrip was gravel, with 8 inch-high grass along the edges. He said that during the takeoff roll and after the tailwheel came up, the airplane pulled to the right, possibly due to the right main landing gear encountering the grass edge. The airplane lifted off to about 15 feet while drifting to the right, and the right wingtip struck trees that were along the edge of the airstrip. The airplane nosed down about 400 feet from the initial takeoff point, and received structural damage to the wings, fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5408Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5408Y), registered now, S/N 18-8171, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-8171
- Airframe hours: 3986
- Engines: Lycoming O-320A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sherman Reynolds
- Registered owner: Sherman G. Reynolds
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 2008, 19 hours before
- Departed: Skwentna, AK
- Destination: PAMR, Anchorage, AK
- Airport: Tal River Lodge, runway 27, 2,000 × 40 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 136 total, 121 in this make and model, 77 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °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 20080621857899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080621857899A), Jun 21, 2008: Piper PA18150, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot was taking off on a dirt strip 10 miles sw of skwenta, Alaska. The aircraft drifted to the right. The right wing struck a tree just after lift off,…

## Other investigations on N5408Y (7)

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 GAA19CA564](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA564), Sep 23, 2019: Piper PA18 (N5408Y), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper decision to depart from an off-airport surface covered with standing water, which resulted in a noseover.
- [NTSB GAA16CA440](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA440), Aug 19, 2016: Piper PA 18-150 (N5408Y), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive brake application during the landing roll resulting in a nose over.
- [NTSB ANC05CA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA084), Jun 11, 2005: Piper PA-18 (N5408Y), Pamler, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to obtain/maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff-initial climb, which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees. Factors associated with the accident are a tailwind…
- [NTSB ANC02LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA027), Mar 28, 2002: Piper PA-18 (N5408Y), Chickaloon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate supervision of the student pilot by the instructor. Factors associated with the accident are the snow-covered runway and the loss of directional control by the student pilot.
- [NTSB ANC84LA102](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA102), Jun 24, 1984: Piper PA-18-180 (N5408Y), Bear Creek, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC74DAG66](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74DAG66), Oct 1, 1973: Piper PA-18 (N5408Y), Nondalton, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC68F0023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC68F0023), Mar 6, 1967: Piper PA-18 (N5408Y), Mcgrath, 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.

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