# NTSB ANC15LA056: Piper PA 18-150, N8761C, Dillingham, AK, July 21, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2015, 21:15 local (Jul 21, 2015, 05:15 UTC) - Place: Dillingham, AK - Coordinates: 59.049999, -158.58139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.0500&lon=-158.5814&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91640 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91640/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91640 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15LA056 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to continue a takeoff even though the airplane was not airborne by the planned takeoff decision point. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was conducting a personal flight in the float-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that, after reaching the planned takeoff decision point, the airplane was not airborne, so he applied full flaps, and the airplane then immediately became airborne. The airplane climbed to about 40 ft above ground level, but it had insufficient airspeed to continue climbing and subsequently stalled. In an attempt to avoid impacting the trees ahead, the pilot initiated a left bank, and the airplane subsequently impacted a flat area of muskeg adjacent to the waterway. A postaccident engine examination revealed no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot should not have continued the takeoff given that the airplane had not become airborne by the planned decision takeoff point. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2015 about 2115 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped, Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N8761C, sustained substantial damage shortly after takeoff from Shannons Pond (0Z3), Dillingham, Alaska. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the private pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. In a statement provided to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that during takeoff, after reaching the planned takeoff decision point, full flaps were applied. The airplane immediately became airborne and climbed about 40 feet above ground level (agl).Once reaching that altitude, the airplane did not have the necessary airspeed to continue climbing. In an effort to avoid impacting the trees ahead, a left bank was initiated and the airplane impacted a flat area of muskeg adjacent to Shannons Pond. A post-accident engine exam revealed no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The spark plugs were removed and the propeller was rotated and compression was observed. The closest weather reporting facility is Dillingham Airport, Dillingham, about 3 miles southeast of the accident site. At 2053, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) from the Dillingham Airport was reporting in part: wind from 110 degrees at 7 knots; sky condition, scattered at 8,000 feet agl, scattered at 15,000 agl, broken at 15,000 feet agl; visibility, 30 statute miles; temperature 68 degrees F; dewpoint 52 degrees F; barometric pressure 29.94 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8761C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8761C), registered now, S/N 18-2848, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2848 - Year built: 1953 - Airframe hours: 4406.5 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flensburg Susan L - Registered owner: Flensburg Susan L - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2015, 12 hours before - Departed: 0Z3, Dillingham, AK - Destination: Dillingham, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 0Z3, Shannons Pond, runway NE, 1,400 × 100 ft, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 1999; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 889 total, 672 in this make and model, 888 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: PADL, 2 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 20150720014409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150720014409A), Jul 20, 2015: Piper PA-18-135, Dillingham, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft was not making enough power. Pilot continued to rotate for takeoff instead of aborting. Witness report the aircraft in a nose high attitude, dragging… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 6, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91640. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 968 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438545&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with Witness (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438546&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Witness-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.