# NTSB ANC21LA087: Aeronca 15AC, N1441H, North Pole, AK, September 10, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 9, 2021, 20:00 local (Sep 10, 2021, 04:00 UTC) - Place: North Pole, AK - Coordinates: 64.774519, -147.33907 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7745&lon=-147.3391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - Juneau Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 103851 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103851/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103851 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to ensure adequate obstacle clearance while maneuvering, which resulted in a collision with a tree and a loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 15AC, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0191202), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, he was conducting a touch-and-go in his float equipped airplane on a pond directly to the south of a private runway. After he completed the touch-and-go, and during the initial climb, he altered his course to the right for traffic departing from the nearby runway and impacted a tree. He attempted to return to the pond but was unable and subsequently impacted trees and a powerline, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1441H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1441H), registered now, S/N 15AC-506 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 15AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 15AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-15ac) (registry code 0191202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15AC-506 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Holder Jimmy R - Registered owner: Holder Jimmy R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 20, 2021 - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: 5AK3, Airway - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 8, 2021; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.59 inHg - Observed at: PAFB, 8 nm away - METAR: PAFB 100358Z AUTO 00000KT 6SM HZ CLR 15/09 A2959 RMK AO2 SLP024 P0000 T01480091 $ ## 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 20210909017989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210909017989A), Sep 9, 2021: Aeronca 15AC, North Pole, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he was doing a touch and go on the float pond to the south of 5AK3. Contact with the water was made at about 1600 feet down the pond that is about… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103851. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13027551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 882 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13027353&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13026776&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-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.