- Date
- September 23, 2011, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Beluga, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N78564Piper PA-12
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 27, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-03
- FAA report
- 20110923022739A
- Case key
- 81882
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to take off uphill into rising terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot elected to take off uphill from a remote site due to a light wind coming down the slope. He said that during the takeoff roll, the airplane hit a bump and became airborne prematurely. The airplane was unable to outclimb the rising terrain and vegetation. After the main landing gear encountered high vegetation, the airplane slowed, impacted terrain, and nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings. There were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot elected to takeoff from the remote site uphill, due to a light wind coming down the slope. During the takeoff roll, he said the airplane hit a bump, and became airborne prematurely. The airplane was unable to out climb the rising terrain and vegetation. The main landing gear encountered high vegetation, the airplane slowed, impacted terrain, and nosed over.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N78564
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 12-3939
- Airframe hours
- 3,797
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Knutson Tad T
- Registered owner
- Knutson Tad T
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 6, 2010
- Departed
- Beluga, AK
- Destination
- Beluga, AK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 30, 2010
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 632 total · 553 in this make and model · 328 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 43 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 639 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N78564 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.