# NTSB ANC08TA006: Aviat A1B, N739, Palmer, AK, October 4, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: October 4, 2007, 14:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.4413888888889, -148.609722222222
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4414&lon=-148.6097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: US Department of Interior
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66960
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08TA006
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66960/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08TA006

## Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain clearance from high vegetation during the off-airport landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - high vegetation
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)

## Analysis

The flight instructor/mentor pilot for a federal agency was demonstrating off-airport landing techniques to a commercial federal pilot at a remote off-airport site during a public use training flight.  The flight instructor was flying the airplane, and was attempting to do a touch and go landing on a gravel bar when the left wing struck a clump of vegetation.  The flight instructor completed the touch and go, and returned the airplane to its base, where it was found that a wing rib would have to be replaced.  The operator noted that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On October 4, 2007, about 1450 Alaska daylight time,  a wheel-equipped Aviat A1B (Husky) airplane, N739, operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior as a public use training flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, sustained substantial damage during an off-airport landing, about 17 miles southeast of Palmer, Alaska.  The airline transport pilot/flight instructor and the commercial pilot/student were not injured.  The local flight departed the Lake Hood airstrip, Anchorage, Alaska,  about 1400.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was in effect.

According to interviews with air safety investigators for the operator, and the pilot's and operator's written statements, the purpose of the flight was for the pilot to evaluate and provide instruction to the commercial pilot on off-airport landings.  During the accident landing, the flight instructor pilot, who was seated in the rear tandem seat, was demonstrating a touch and go landing to the commercial pilot when the left wing struck a clump of small trees/tall vegetation, and yawed to the left.  The flight instructor was able to continue the touch and go, and successfully flew the airplane to Anchorage, where it was determined that the left wing required a rib to be replaced.

The operator's aviation mechanics and air safety investigators, noted that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N739 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Aviat A1B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2226
- Engines: Lycoming O-360A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91
- Registered owner: U.S. Department of the Interior
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2007, 91 hours before
- Departed: Z41, Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport, flight instructor; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 10,000 total, 500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.65 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 20071004825159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071004825159A), Oct 4, 2007: Aviat A1B, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot, he was attempting to land when aircraft left wing contacted brush. (-23 amendment) according to interviews with the air safety…

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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