# NTSB ANC11CA074: Piper PA-18-150, N762LA, Coldfoot, AK, August 7, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 6, 2011, 23:00 local (Aug 7, 2011, 07:00 UTC)
- Place: Coldfoot, AK
- Coordinates: 67.950279, -148.224716 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.9503&lon=-148.2247&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: Fairbanks FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 81434
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81434/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81434
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA074

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate directional control of the airplane during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s fatigue.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Alertness/Fatigue](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013500/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: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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 in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The operator stated that the pilot was departing from a small remote airstrip. Just after lifting off, the airplane drifted to the right, and the right wing contacted brush on the side of the airstrip, causing the airplane to spin to the right and flip over. The empennage and wings sustained substantial damage. The operator said that the flight was at the end of the day, and that the pilot was very fatigued.

## Factual narrative

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the operator stated that the pilot was departing from a small remote airstrip. Just after lifting off, the airplane drifted to the right, and the right wing contacted brush on the side of the airstrip, causing it to spin to the right and flip over. He said that the flight was at the end of the day, and that the pilot was very fatigued. The empennage and wings sustained substantial damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N762LA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7873
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Scenic Mountain Air Inc
- Registered owner: Scenic Mountain Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Coldfoot, AK
- Destination: Coldfoot, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 8,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81434. 52 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359531&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.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.

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