# NTSB ANC12CA074: Piper PA-18-150, N4272Z, Tynoek, AK, July 11, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2012, 16:30 local (Jul 11, 2012, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Tynoek, AK - Coordinates: 61.268611, -152.058609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2686&lon=-152.0586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84269 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC12CA074 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84269/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84269 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12CA074 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## 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: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Wind: updraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034030/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was taking off from an off-airport site on a mountain ridge when an updraft lifted the right wing. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall that the pilot was unable to recover from before the airplane impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was taking off from an off-airport site on a mountain ridge when a updraft lifted the right wing. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall that he was unable to recover from before impacting terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4272Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4272Z), registered now, S/N 18-8519, built 1967 (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: 18-8519 - Airframe hours: 6159 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2012, 44 hours before - Departed: Z41, Anchorage, AK - Destination: Z41, Anchorage, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 20, 2012; seat: front; flight hours: 731 total, 278 in this make and model, 126 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg ## 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 20120710014929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120710014929A), Jul 10, 2012: Piper PA-18-150, Beluga, AK, Substantial damage. While attempting to take off from a mountain ridge, the airman allowed the left wing to contact the ground after experiencing a strong crosswind gust. This… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84269. 748 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 748 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40375722&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.