# NTSB ANC21LA071: Piper PA-14, N4226H, Tyonek, AK, August 15, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 14, 2021, 19:45 local (Aug 15, 2021, 03:45 UTC) - Place: Tyonek, AK - Coordinates: 61.210482, -150.94421 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2105&lon=-150.9442&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103710 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103710/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103710 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA071 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and adequate airspeed during takeoff which resulted in a collision with a river. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s improper decision to load the airplane above its maximum allowable gross weight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 152 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/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-14, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101402), [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-14, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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 control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-14, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101402), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and two passengers were departing from a remote gravel bar located along a river in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. After loading the airplane to 2,100 pounds, which was 165 pounds over the maximum allowable gross weight for the airplane, the pilot began a westerly takeoff since the prevailing wind above the treeline was coming from the west. Once the airplane cleared the treeline, the wind pushed it to the left, he continued the left turn, and the airspeed began to decrease. In effort to correct for the decreasing airspeed, he pushed forward on the airplane’s control stick and pitched the nose of the airplane down. Realizing he would be unable to regain sufficient airspeed, he reduced the engine power to idle, pulled back on the control stick and impacted the river in a nose high attitude. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4226H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4226H), registered now, S/N 14-29 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-14 - Registry model: [Piper PA-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-14) (registry code 7101402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14-29 - Year built: 1948 - Airframe hours: 121.8 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2A 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Angel Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Angel Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 30, 2021, 12 hours before - Destination: MRI, Anchorage, AK - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 7, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 6,863 total, 236 in this make and model, 6,771 as pilot in command, 620 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20210814013759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210814013759A), Aug 14, 2021: Piper PA-14, Beluga, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot provide the following narrative: "We departed pamr on Saturday August 14th, 2021 at approximately 1500 local in N4226H. Destination was a gravel… ## Other investigations on N4226H (2) 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. - [NTSB ANC83LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC83LA019), Nov 25, 1982: Piper PA-14 (N4226H), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage - [NTSB ANC76DAH12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC76DAH12), May 8, 1976: Piper PA-14 (N4226H), Palmer, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103710. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12759155&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC21LA071%206120%20for%20Docket_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12758218&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20ANC21LA071-Rel.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.