- Date
- August 1, 2023, 15:15 local (23:15 UTC)
- Place
- Wasilla, AK
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N907AXCort J Neuman Apex
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Ground collision
- 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
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20230801015929A
- Case key
- 192778
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 failure to maintain clearance during takeoff, which resulted in 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 stated that he planned to take the passenger on a local sightseeing flight. During takeoff from the 1,600 ft. long gravel-covered runway, the airplane performed as expected until reaching about 50 ft above ground level (agl), at which point the climb performance degraded significantly. He observed no change in engine performance or weather conditions. As the airplane neared the end of the runway, he realized that he would not be able to pass over the trees that bordered the airport and attempted to maintain direction control avoiding a heading to the larger trees. The airplane collided with the trees sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N907AX
- Reported as
- Cort J Neuman Apex
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1
- Built
- 2022
- Airframe hours
- 100
- Engine
- Custom O-360-C1G EXP, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · April 6, 2023 · 31 hours before
- Destination
- Same as departure
- Airport
- 97AK · High Ridge Association Airport, runway 080, 1,800 × 150 ft, gravel
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic multifunction display
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
- 59
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Military
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 14, 2023
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 12,200 total · 131 in this make and model · 2,500 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 0.2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.07 inHg
- Observed at
- PAAQ, 6 nm away
- METAR
- PAAQ 012353Z 25006KT 10SM CLR 24/14 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP182 T02440139 10244 20178 56007
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 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.