# NTSB ANC85LA120: Piper PA-14, N4292H, Anchorage, AK, July 7, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 6, 1985, 20:30 local (Jul 7, 1985, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Coordinates: 61.159954, -149.989227 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1600&lon=-149.9892&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4519
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC85LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4519/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC85LA120

## 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
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PLT ABORTED HIS 1ST ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF DUE TO BOAT & WATER SKI ACTIVITY. HE BACK TAXIED & BEGAN A 2ND ATTEMPT ON ROUGH WATER. THE ACFT BECAME AIRBORNE AT ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE. IT STOPPED CLIMBING WHEN THE PLT BEGAN TO RAISE THE FLAPS, SO HE 'PULLED THE SECOND NOTCH OF FLAPS BACK ON' AND BEGAN A SHALLOW TURN. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT MUSHED, COLLIDED WITH TREES & CRASHED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4292H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4292H), registered now, S/N 14-45, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-14
- Registry model: [Piper PA-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-14) (registry code 7101402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1445
- Airframe hours: 2965
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Claude Gregory Rick
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 5, 1984, 50 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,005 total, 260 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19850706029769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850706029769A), Jul 6, 1985: Piper STCPA14, Anchorage, AK, Destroyed. Aircraft was unable to climb over trees after takeoff from lake. Settled in trees and impacted ground. Small fire.

## Other investigations on N4292H (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 ANC99LA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA078), Jun 19, 1999: Piper PA-14 (N4292H), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area. A factor associated with the accident was high vegetation.

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.