# NTSB ANC13CA107: Piper PA 18-150, N40579, Wasilla, AK, September 30, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 30, 2013, 08:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.591945, -149.358612 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5919&lon=-149.3586&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Anchorage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88169 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC13CA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88169/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88169 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13CA107 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper preflight inspection, and failure to remove heavy frost from the airplane prior to attempting a takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Structural icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/210/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: 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 was attempting to takeoff from a public street, but the airplane would not climb, and struck a light pole, sustaining substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that he failed to remove heavy frost from the airplane prior to the takeoff attempt. He also stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was attempting to takeoff from a public street, but the airplane would not climb, and struck a light pole, sustaining substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that he failed to remove heavy frost from the airplane prior to the takeoff attempt. He also stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40579](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40579), registered now, S/N 18-7509129, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 (A150) - 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: 18-7509129 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 5991 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 2013, 210 hours before - Departed: Wasilla, AK - Destination: 5NK, Naknek, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2011; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,800 total, 4,500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.44 inHg - Observed at: PAAQ, 8 nm away ## 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 20130930021099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130930021099A), Sep 30, 2013: Piper PA-18-150, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft was taking off from [privacy data omitted], which is a subdivision street next to the pilots home in [privacy data omitted]. Aircraft failed to gain… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88169. 345 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 345 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40410592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.