# NTSB ANC11CA105: Piper PA-18-150, N82907, Bethel, AK, September 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 16, 2011, 19:45 local (Sep 17, 2011, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Bethel, AK - Coordinates: 60.792778, -161.821395 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7928&lon=-161.8214&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 18, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 81859 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC11CA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81859/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81859 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11CA105 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: takeoff distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/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: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during takeoff in his float-equipped airplane, he realized that the airplane was not going to become airborne before reaching the departure end of the lake. He closed the engine throttle in an attempt to abort the takeoff, but the airplane struck the shoreline and came to rest on the tundra adjacent to the lake, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. He indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane and that the accident could have been prevented if he had aborted the takeoff sooner. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during takeoff in his float-equipped airplane, he realized that the airplane was not going to become airborne before reaching the departure end of the lake. He closed the engine throttle in an attempt to abort the takeoff, but the airplane struck the shoreline and came to rest on the tundra adjacent to the lake, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. He stated the automated weather observation from an airport approximately 1 mile south of the lake was reporting wind from the east-northeast, but the wind appeared calm on the lake. He made the decision to takeoff to the west due to the calm wind, and to stay away from aircraft departing to the north from the nearby airport. He indicated there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the accident could have been prevented if he had aborted the takeoff sooner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82907](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82907), registered now, S/N 18-7909031, built 1978 (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: 18-7909031 - Airframe hours: 2417 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PABE, Bethel, AK - Destination: PABE, Bethel, AK - Airport: PABE, Bethel - H Marker Lake, runway 27, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 1,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 75 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.52 inHg - Observed at: PABE, 1 nm away ## 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 20110916021699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110916021699A), Sep 16, 2011: Piper PA-18-150, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he was departing h-marker lake in Bethel, Alaska. He was departing to the west. The aircraft didn't accelerate like he felt it should… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81859. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359090&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.