- Date
- September 18, 2013, 17:00 local (Sep 19, 2013, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Delta Junction, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7190DPiper PA 18-150
- Defining event
- Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20130918019029A
- Case key
- 88092
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 inadequate takeoff planning and judgment that did not consider the reduced acceleration due to snow-covered terrain, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and collision with 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 reported that during takeoff from a snow-covered mountain ridgeline, the airplane did not attain sufficient airspeed to takeoff before reaching the end of the site, so he aborted the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the airplane rolled to the end of the site and impacted an area of rough and uneven terrain, and eventually came to rest on the forward fuselage. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff from a snow-covered mountain ridgeline, the airplane did not attain sufficient airspeed to takeoff before reaching the end of the site, so he aborted the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the airplane rolled to the end of the site and impacted an area of rough and uneven terrain, and eventually came to rest on the forward fuselage. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7190D
- Reported as
- Piper PA 18-150 (A150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-5657
- Built
- 1957
- Airframe hours
- 8,816
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ward Art W
- Registered owner
- Ward Art W
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 2, 2013
- Departed
- Delta Junction, AK
- Destination
- Salcha, 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
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 8, 2013
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 9,057 total · 8,455 in this make and model · 9,017 as pilot in command · 82 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,800 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 36 °F
- Observed at
- PABI, 30 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 20, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 647 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 N7190D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.