- Date
- July 3, 2012, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- McGrath, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8635DPiper PA-22-160
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA FSDO-01
- FAA report
- 20120703014849A
- Case key
- 84206
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 load the airplane in excess of its takeoff capability given the runway conditions, which resulting in a collision with terrain during the initial climb.
Findings · 2
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 reported that he was departing from a grass/turf runway with a passenger and cargo onboard. The airplane became airborne, but it did not climb. After clearing trees at the end of the site, the airplane settled to the ground and collided with terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot stated that he should have flown his cargo out first and then returned for his passenger. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was departing from a grass/turf runway, with a passenger and cargo onboard. As the airplane became airborne, it did not climb. After clearing trees at the end of the site, the airplane settled to the ground, and collided with terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. In the pilot’s written statement to the NTSB, he stated he should have flown his cargo out first, and then returned for his passenger. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8635D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22-160
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-5843
- Airframe hours
- 4,400
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Chapman Harold J
- Registered owner
- Chapman Harold J
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2011
- Departed
- McGrath, AK
- Destination
- PANN · Nenana, 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
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 2, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 800 total · 625 in this make and model · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 565 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 N8635D · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.