- Date
- August 26, 2014, 21:15 local (Aug 27, 2014, 05:15 UTC)
- Place
- Beluga, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5616YPiper PA 18-150
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 11, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20140826016959A
- Case key
- 89986
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 selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, resulting in an inflight collision with vegetation/brush during takeoff.
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 was departing, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, from a 600 foot long, by 50 wide, off-airport site that was surrounded by trees and overgrown brush. The pilot reported that before starting his takeoff roll he completed the predeparture checklist, and then he configured the wing flaps by placing the flap handle into the first notch. During the takeoff roll, and as the airplane achieved a takeoff speed, the pilot applied an additional notch of flaps. The pilot reported that as the airplane became airborne, the left wing contacted an area of overgrown brush, which briefly pivoted the airplane to the left. The pilot then applied full right rudder to correct for the pivoting and realign the airplane over the site, resulting in a reduction of airspeed. The airplane subsequently descended into an area of brush-covered terrain at the departure end of the site, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot was departing, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, from a 600 foot long, by 50 wide, off-airport site that was surrounded by trees and overgrown brush. The pilot reported that before starting his takeoff roll he completed the predeparture checklist, and then he configured the wing flaps by placing the flap handle into the first notch. During the takeoff roll, and as the airplane achieved a takeoff speed, the pilot applied an additional notch of flaps. The pilot reported that as the airplane became airborne, the left wing contacted an area of overgrown brush, which briefly pivoted the airplane to the left. The pilot then applied full right rudder to correct for the pivoting and realign the airplane over the site, resulting in a reduction of airspeed. The airplane subsequently descended into an area of brush-covered terrain at the departure end of the site, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5616Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA 18-150 (A150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8287
- Built
- 1965
- Airframe hours
- 2,816
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 5, 2013 · 150 hours before
- Departed
- None · Beluga, AK
- Destination
- 4AK6 · Palmer, AK
- Airport
- None · Gravel Strip, runway none, 600 × 50 ft, gravel
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
- 24
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 7, 2013
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 161 total · 161 in this make and model · 140 as pilot in command · 42 in the last 90 days · 37 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.4 MB 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.