# NTSB ANC93LA160: Piper PA-18, N6819L, Happy Valley, AK, August 29, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 1993, 16:00 local (Aug 29, 1993, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Happy Valley, AK - Coordinates: 70.429328, -149.290802 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=70.4293&lon=-149.2908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2416 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC93LA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2416/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC93LA160 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - preflight planning/preparation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, takeoff - roll/run - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis THE PILOT, INVOLVED IN A HUNT/GUIDE OPERATION, STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT AND HE COULD NOT CORRECT SUFFICIENTLY BEFORE IT WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE TAKEOFF AREA. BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND BOTH WINGS AND THE FUSELAGE WERE DAMAGED. THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF WITH A PASSENGER, FROM AN UNIMPROVED REMOTE SITE APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET LONG. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 1993, at 1600 Alaska daylight time, the pilot of a wheel equipped Piper PA 18 airplane, N6819L, lost control of the airplane and crashed during an attempted takeoff from a remote strip located 21 miles west of Happy Valley, Alaska, and approximately 100 miles south of Deadhorse, Alaska. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and a company flight plan was filed. When the pilot reported the accident by telephone on August 30, 1993, he stated the following in part: "I was taking off from a tundra strip about 700 feet long. I had previously made 6 or 8 takeoffs and landings at that strip. I started the takeoff run with no flaps, then put in one notch of flaps when I got up some speed. The airplane did not seem to want to get airborne. I might have been a little late getting the tail off the ground. The airplane veered off the left and I could not correct sufficiently before it went off the side of the strip. The main landing gear collapsed, both wings were damaged, and the fuselage was twisted." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6819L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6819L-2015-07-06), registration cancelled 2015-07-06, S/N 18-7409103, built 1974 (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: 18-7409103 - Airframe hours: 1600 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Watkins, Thomas F. - Registered owner: Watkins, Thomas F. - Last inspection: Annual, September 29, 1992, 172 hours before - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 506 total, 483 in this make and model, 506 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 41 °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 19930828032049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930828032049A), Aug 28, 1993: Piper PA18150, Happy Valley, AK, Substantial damage. Unable to gain fllying speed trying to depart remote strip. Ran off side runway. Possible over load condition. ## Other investigations on N6819L (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 ANC10CA103](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA103), Sep 29, 2010: Piper PA-18-150 (N6819L), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for an off-airport landing, resulting in the airplane nosing over. 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.