- Date
- September 17, 2014, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cantwell, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1879PPiper PA 18-150
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 5, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 20140917017259A
- Case key
- 90089
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 loss of directional control during takeoff from an off-airport site, which resulted in a 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 he was departing from a remote airstrip in a 3-4 knot left crosswind. After the airplane started its takeoff roll, it drifted left of the planned takeoff path and into low lying brush adjacent to the airstrip. The pilot continued the takeoff roll while correcting to the right with no results. The airplane became airborne, without enough airspeed to maintain flight. The airplane descended downhill and impacted brush and terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported he was departing from a remote airstrip in a 3-4 knot left crosswind. After the airplane started its takeoff roll, it drifted left of the planned takeoff path and into low lying brush adjacent to the airstrip. The pilot continued the takeoff roll while correcting to the right with no results. The airplane became airborne, without enough airspeed to maintain flight. The airplane descended downhill and impacted brush and terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1879P
- Reported as
- Piper PA 18-150 (A150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-4158
- Built
- 1955
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 B2B, 160 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Wilson, Alan W
- Registered owner
- Williams, Steven C
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Cantwell, AK
- Destination
- PALH · Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Handheld GPS
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 12, 2014
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 5,000 total · 200 in this make and model · 3,500 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Other flight crew
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Seat
- Rear
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.36 inHg
- Observed at
- PAEC, 46 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 24, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 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.
Other investigations on N1879P · 3
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.