ANC87LA044

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-11 · Nenana, AK · March 5, 1987

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report

Date: March 5, 1987, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
Place: Nenana, AK
Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
Damage: Substantial damage
Phase of flight: Initial climb
Aircraft: N4724MPiper PA-11
Weather: Visual (VMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report March 21, 1988
Report: Approved by Office Director
NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
FAA report: 19870305005389A
Case key: 4827

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanicalTakeoff - initial climb

Lubricating system - frozenFactor

Preflight planning/preparation - improperPilot in commandCause

Fluid,oil - pressure too lowFactor

Procedures/directives - not followedPilot in commandCause

Aircraft handling - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Stall/mush - inadvertentPilot in commandCause

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb

In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

The pilot lost control on takeoff, stalled and crashed on a frozen lake. During the interview with the pilot, he stated that the engine quit on initial climbout; he believed he did not pre-heat the engine long enough before takeoff. At the time of the accident the temperature was -5 degrees fahrenheit.

Aircraft

Registration: N4724M
Reported as: Piper PA-11
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 11236
Airframe hours: 2,928
Engine: Lycoming O-235-C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Registered owner: Bartholomew J. Mcdonald
Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
Last inspection: Annual · March 13, 1986 · 41 hours before
Departed: North Pole, AK
Destination: FAI · Fairbanks, AK

N4724MRegistered now · Piper PA-11S/N 11-236 · Built 1947 Airframe modelPiper PA-11 Engine modelContinental C85 seriesReciprocating

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: 28
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat: Left
Flight hours: 400 total · 400 in this make and model · 380 as pilot in command · 48 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 360° at 20 knots, gusting 30
Visibility: 30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: -6 °F, dew point 19 °F
Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Accident 19870305005389APiper PA11 · Nenana, AKThe engine failed on takeoff and the aircraft impacted the frozen lake. Pilot suspects inadequate preheating.Mar 5, 1987 · N4724M · Substantial damage

Other investigations on N4724M · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC89LA002Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLevelock, AKThe airplane was at approximately 250 to 300 feet above sea level, and was executing a 360 degree turn to the left when the airplane stalled and crashed in the river. The pilot reported that he has never held a FAA pilot or medical certificate.Oct 2, 1988 · Substantial damage