# NTSB ANC13CA043: Piper PA-11, N4772M, Soldotna, AK, May 5, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 5, 2013, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Soldotna, AK - Coordinates: 60.474723, -151.038055 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4747&lon=-151.0381&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA FSDO (Airworthiness) - NTSB case key (mKey): 86837 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC13CA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86837/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86837 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA043 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/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: [Piper PA-11, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor was providing primary flight instruction to a student pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The instructor reported that when the student pilot departed from the 5,000-foot-long, dry, paved runway, the airplane drifted to the right just after becoming airborne. Unable to correct the drift, the airplane continued off the right side of the runway, and over an area of grass-covered terrain. The instructor said that the student pilot then closed the engine throttle and switched the engine magnetos to the off position, and the airplane subsequently landed hard on the right main landing gear wheel. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor was providing primary flight instruction to a student pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The instructor reported that as the student pilot was departing from a 5,000 foot-long, dry paved runway, the airplane drifted to the right just after becoming airborne. Unable to correct the drift, the airplane continued off the right side of the runway, and over an area of grass-covered terrain. The instructor said that the student pilot then closed the engine throttle and switched the engine magnetos to the off position, and the airplane subsequently landed hard on the right main landing gear wheel. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preaccident mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4772M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4772M-2018-01-08), registration cancelled 2018-01-08, S/N 11-287, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-11 - Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11-287 - Airframe hours: 2492 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2012 - Departed: PASX, Soldotna, AK - Destination: PASX, Soldotna, AK - Airport: PASX, Soldotna Airport, runway 07, 5,000 × 132 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 38; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,284 total, 37 in this make and model, 1,211 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 38; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 39 total, 39 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: PASX ## 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 20130505006899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130505006899A), May 5, 2013: Piper PA-11, Soldotna, AK, Substantial damage. During a personal/instruction flight at rotation during takeoff, the student pilot and instructor reported that the aircraft rolled aggressively to the right.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86837. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 989 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393464&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393465&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports (Memo - FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 336 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393473&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%20(Memo%20-%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo: Accident airplane (CFI photo) (item 4, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40393466&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Accident%20airplane%20%20%20%20%20%20(CFI%20photo)-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. --- 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.