# NTSB ANC09CA105: Piper PA-22, N2601P, Seward, AK, September 21, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 21, 2009, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Seward, AK - Coordinates: 59.9375, -147.498062 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.9375&lon=-147.4981&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 19, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - FSDO3 - NTSB case key (mKey): 74789 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC09CA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74789/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74789 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC09CA105 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, resulting in a loss of control and a nose over during the takeoff roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Piper PA-22, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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-22, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102202), [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-22, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7102202), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot and one passenger were taking off from a remote island beach in his tailwheel-equipped airplane on a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight when the accident occurred. The pilot related that as the airplane accelerated on the beach, the main landing gear wheels encountered soft sand, the airplane quickly slowed and then nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the accident could have been prevented if the airplane had larger tires, or if he had selected a firmer takeoff area. ## Factual narrative The airline transport pilot and one passenger were taking off from a remote island beach in his tailwheel-equipped airplane on a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight when the accident occurred. The pilot related that as the airplane accelerated on the beach, the main landing gear wheels encountered soft sand, the airplane quickly slowed and then nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the accident could have been prevented if the airplane had larger tires, or if he had selected a firmer takeoff area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2601P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2601P-2012-10-18), registration cancelled 2012-10-18, S/N 22-2934, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-2934 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dylan Honebrink - Registered owner: Spacek Craig A - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: NA, Seward, AK - Destination: NA, Seward, AK - Airport: NA, Na, runway 18 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; seat: left; flight hours: 3,578 total, 92 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20090921049749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090921049749A), Sep 21, 2009: Piper PA-22, Cordova, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot stated he departed mri on 09/19/2009 and landed on the beach at patton bay on montague island. At 1400 hours on 09/21/2009, the pilot prepared for… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74789. 616 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 616 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40321072&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.