# NTSB ANC24LA098: Piper PA-18-150, N4242Z, Fairbanks, AK, September 15, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 15, 2024, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK · remote grass strip - Coordinates: 64.763559, -147.7588 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.7636&lon=-147.7588&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 195179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195179/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195179 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA098 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a rate of climb sufficient to clear obstacles during takeoff, resulting in a collision with obstacles and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff, his tailwheel-equipped airplane was not producing adequate lift to maintain a rate of climb needed to clear obstacles at the end of the airstrip. The landing gear contacted the tops of some small trees, the left wing stalled, and the airplane came to rest in a grove of small trees and brush, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4242Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4242Z), registered now, S/N 18-8597, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8597 - Year built: 1967 - Airframe hours: 2365 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 27, 2023, 19 hours before - Departed: MTF, Fairbanks, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 29,500 total, 146 in this make and model, 28,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,800 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.31 inHg - Observed at: PAFA, 4 nm away - METAR: PAFA 151953Z 19005KT 9SM -RA FEW027 BKN038 OVC055 09/08 A2931 RMK AO2 SLP931 P0003 T00940078 $ ## 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 20240915014709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240915014709A), Sep 15, 2024: Piper PA-18-150, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was departing a grass strip that was approximately 500-600 feet long with one passenger on board. After departure the main landing gear clipped a tree… ## Other investigations on N4242Z (1) 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 ANC85FA042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85FA042), Jan 25, 1985: Piper PA-18 (N4242Z), Minto, AK, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195179. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 6.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17797275&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA098%20Fairbanks%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 459 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17832847&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA098%20Investigative%20Photos-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.