# NTSB ANC79DAH07: Piper PA-18, N8856C, Anchorage, AK, September 1, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 1, 1979
- Place: Anchorage, AK · ANCHORAGE, AK
- Location: 61.2181° N, 149.9003° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Anchorage, AK, within about 23 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2181&lon=-149.9003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134125
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC79DAH07
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DAH07

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2327   79/9/1  NR.ANCHORAGE,AK       PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 59, 2666
        TIME - 1600                    N8856C              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 53 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BUSH STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         ANCHORAGE,AK                UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
           WEATHER - SUDDEN WINDSHIFT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      50
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           90                                                       10
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8856C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8856C), registered now, S/N 18-2913, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Bush Strip

## 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 19790901022509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790901022509A), Sep 1, 1979: Piper PA18150, Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. Attempted downhill takeoff from a ridge. Hit down draft-hit ground nose first. Flipped over.

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.