# NTSB ANC08TA107: Piper PA-18-150, N4151T, Slana, AK, August 19, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: August 19, 2008, 05:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Slana, AK - Coordinates: 62.533332, -143.233337 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.5333&lon=-143.2333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Anchorage FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 68813 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08TA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68813/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08TA107 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [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) - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); 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-rejected takeoff: 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 pilot was taking off from an unimproved area on a local public use flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Due to restricted visibility from the cockpit associated with over-sized main landing gear tires, and obstacles on the left side of the takeoff area, the pilot said he was favoring the right side. He reported that during takeoff, the airplane's right wing encountered low willow bushes, pulling the airplane to the right, and that as he aborted the takeoff, the right wing, and then the left wing, struck trees. He said the airplane sustained damage to the left wing and left lift-strut. There were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2008, about 0530 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N4151T, sustained substantial damage when it veered off the takeoff area after encountering brush during the takeoff roll, about 27 miles southeast of Slana, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the State of Alaska, Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) public use flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 91, 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 August 19, a representative of the Alaska State Troopers said the pilot was taking off from an unimproved landing area when the airplane encountered high vegetation, which caused the airplane to veer off the takeoff area. He said the airplane sustained damage to the left wing and left lift-strut. The representative said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident. In a written report to the NTSB dated August 22, the pilot said due to restricted visibility from the cockpit associated with the over-sized main landing gear tires, and obstacles on the left side of the takeoff area, he was favoring the right side. He reported that as the airplane accelerated, its right wing encountered low willow bushes, pulling the airplane to the right. He wrote that as he aborted the takeoff, the right wing, and then the left wing, struck trees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4151T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4151T), registered now, S/N 1809016, built 1989 (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: 1809016 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Public use - Registered owner: State of Alaska - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Slana, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 2,309 total, 384 in this make and model, 102 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °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 20080819844009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080819844009A), Aug 19, 2008: Piper PA18150, Slana, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Airmen stated that after advancing throttle for departure he attempted to lift the tail and the a/c. he observed a short willow bush ahead and to the… 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.