# NTSB ANC91LA136: Piper PA-18, N9796P, Aspen Creek, AK, August 26, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 25, 1991, 16:00 local (Aug 26, 1991, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Aspen Creek, AK
- Coordinates: 61.620151, -148.980148 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6202&lon=-148.9801&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 March 24, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5611
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91LA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5611/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91LA136

## Probable cause

THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE ROUGH TERRAIN.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,main gear - overload
  - terrain condition - roadway/highway (contributing factor)
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 10 TO 20 FEET AGL, THE ENGINE LOST ABOUT 50% POWER. THE AIRPLANE THEN LANDED HARD, CAUSING ONE MAIN LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE AND THE WINGS TO HIT THE GROUND. INVESTIGATION FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE THAT WERE CONSIDERED CAUSAL TO THE POWER LOSS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9796P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9796P-2011-09-14), registration cancelled 2011-09-14, S/N 18-7609030, built 1976 (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
- Serial number: 18-7609030
- Airframe hours: 2500
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Gary L. Bishop
- Registered owner: Gary L. Bishop
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 1991, 50 hours before
- Departed: ASPEN CREEK, AK
- Destination: PAQ, PALMER, AK
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 5,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken

## 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 19910826036779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910826036779A), Aug 26, 1991: Piper PA18150, Aspen Creek, AK, Substantial damage. Lost partial power and crashed during takeoff. Cause unknown. No defects found.

## Other investigations on N9796P (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 ANC04LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA104), Sep 4, 2004: Piper PA-18-150 (N9796P), Cantwell, AK, destroyed. Probable cause: An in-flight fire for an undetermined reason, which resulted in an off-airport forced landing and subsequent destruction of the airplane by fire.
- [NTSB FTW80DQD04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80DQD04), Oct 18, 1980: Piper PA-18 (N9796P), Tornillo, TX, 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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