# NTSB ANC08TA099: Piper PA-18, N7055, Nome, AK, August 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: August 5, 2008, 16:00 local (Aug 6, 2008, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Nome, AK - Coordinates: 65.07389, -164.665557 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.0739&lon=-164.6656&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 68630 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08TA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68630/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08TA099 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll. ## 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, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101802), [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, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Piper PA-18, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101802), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis While performing wildlife enforcement duties, the private pilot was departing in a tundra-tire-equipped airplane from a remote gravel surface roadway. Ditches were located along each side of the road. The pilot indicated that during the takeoff roll, he glanced down to locate the flap handle, during which time the airplane drifted off the left side of the road. The left main landing gear tire encountered soft terrain in the ditch and the airplane nosed over. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2008, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7055, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a ditch during the takeoff roll from a road, about 38 miles north of Nome, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area public use flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the State of Alaska, Department of Public Safety, Anchorage, Alaska. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was 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 August 6, the pilot reported that he landed on the Kougarok Road to perform wildlife enforcement duties, and was departing for a return flight to Nome. The road has a gravel/dirt surface, with ditches along each edge. The pilot indicated that during the takeoff roll, he glanced down to locate the flap handle, during which the airplane drifted off the left side of the road. The left main landing gear tire encountered soft terrain in the ditch, and the airplane nosed over. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7055](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7055), registered now, S/N 18-8916, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8916 - Airframe hours: 8237 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Operator: State of Alaska - Registered owner: State of Alaska - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 18, 2008, 16 hours before - Departed: PAOM, Nome, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 5, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 523 total, 153 in this make and model, 481 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °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 20080805844059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080805844059A), Aug 5, 2008: Piper PA18150, Nome, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) State trooper pilot attempted to take off from a narrow, gravel road. During the take off roll, he reached down to add flaps, but could not put his hand… 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.