- Date
- July 1, 2020, 16:30 local (Jul 2, 2020, 00:30 UTC)
- Place
- Nikolai, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N6252MStinson 108
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 20200701005359A
- Case key
- 101525
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 improper decision to depart from an unsuitable off-airport surface which resulted in a departure area excursion and impact with trees.
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 reported that he was departing a remote off-airport landing site in his tailwheel-equipped airplane. After assessing the physical site, which was sloped on both ends and the current weather conditions, he selected a takeoff direction and a takeoff abort point. During the departure roll, the airplane failed to accelerate past 40 knots, exited the departure area and impacted brush and trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot listed several ways that the accident could have been prevented which included a more accurate assessment of the departure site, the establishment of a more prominent takeoff abort speed/point, or if he had been more proficient in aborted takeoffs.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was departing a remote off-airport landing site in his tailwheel-equipped airplane. After assessing the physical site, which was sloped on both ends and the current weather conditions, he selected a takeoff direction and a takeoff abort point. During the departure roll, the airplane failed to accelerate past 40 knots, exited the departure area and impacted brush and trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot listed several ways that the accident could have been prevented which included a more accurate assessment of the departure site, the establishment of a more prominent takeoff abort speed/point, or if he had been more proficient in aborted takeoffs.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6252M
- Reported as
- Stinson 108 (3)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 108-4252
- Built
- 1948
- Engine
- Lycoming O-540 B4B5, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 22, 2020
- Departed
- Nikolai, AK
- Destination
- Palmer, AK
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 6, 2019
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- Lap only
- Flight hours
- 1,700 total · 368 in this make and model · 754 as pilot in command · 29 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.23 inHg
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.8 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.