# NTSB ANC82DAG57: Piper PA-18-150, N63837, Wasilla, AK, September 11, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 11, 1982, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 72973
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC82DAG57
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72973/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DAG57

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - water,rough (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT LANDED ON ANDERSON LAKE TO OBTAIN FUEL. AFTER REFUELING, HE ABORTED HIS FIRST ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE. ABOUT 20 GAL OF FUEL WAS THEN DRAINED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. ANOTHER TAKEOFF WAS STARTED BY MAKING A STEP TURN TO THE DEPARTURE HEADING. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LIFTED OFF AT 45 MPH WITH 1/2 FLAPS. HE STATED THAT IT APPEARED THE ENGINE WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER AND THAT HE POSSIBLY ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHEAR CONDITION. AFTER REACHING ABOUT 100 FT AGL, THE PLANE WOULD NOT CLIMB. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE COLLIDED WITH TRANSMISSION LINES ALONG A ROAD THAT DIVIDED ANDERSON LAKE AND KING LAKE. THE AIRCRAFT THEN CRASHED INTO KING LAKE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63837](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N63837), registered now, S/N 18-7809149 (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: 18-7809149
- Airframe hours: 800
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Steven D. Lewis
- Registered owner: Steven D. Lewis
- Departed: Z16, ANDERSON LAKE, AK
- Destination: LHD, LAKE HOOD, AK
- Airport: Kings Lake

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, invalid medical for flight; flight hours: 1,800 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,450 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 60 statute miles

## 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 19820911045339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820911045339A), Sep 11, 1982: Piper PA18150, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft hit powerlines during takeoff from lake. Pilot claims engine not developing full power, not confirmed.

## Other investigations on N63837 (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 ANC80DAG53](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC80DAG53), May 11, 1980: Piper PA-18 (N63837), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC79DAG34](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DAG34), Nov 27, 1978: Piper PA-18 (N63837), Girdwood, AK, substantial damage

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.

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