# NTSB ANC88LA124: Piper PA-18-150, N7697D, Talkeetna, AK, September 4, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 4, 1988, 15:35 local (23:35 UTC)
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Coordinates: 62.449172, -149.78981 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4492&lon=-149.7898&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 July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5065
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88LA124
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5065/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA124

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - terrain condition - loose gravel/sandy (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AND INITIAL CLIMB FROM THE GRAVEL BAR, HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO STALL, THEN THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7697D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7697D), registered now, S/N 18-5925, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185925
- Airframe hours: 1698
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Wells, Ray
- Registered owner: Ray Wells
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 1988, 1,698 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 22,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 45 °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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880904036969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880904036969A), Sep 4, 1988: Piper PA18A150, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Stalled and crashed just after liftoff from a gravel bar. A wing hit ground first and aircraft cartwheeled.

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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