- Date
- May 23, 1994, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Pilot Point, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N99PJPiper PA-18-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 12, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19940523017999A
- Case key
- 2504
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The Pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff.
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.
Analysis
The Pilot reported that during the takeoff run, a small bump in the runway, and a left cross wind, brought the left wing up and the aircraft became uncontrollable despite aileron and rudder input.
Factual narrative
On May 23, 1994, at approximately 1200 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-150, N99PJ, collided with terrain during a takeoff attempt at Upper Olds Creek strip, near Pilot Point, Alaska. The private pilot, a certified Alaska big- game guide, was the sole occupant and was not injured. No flight plan was filed for the local flight for business purposes. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage.
The pilot told the NTSB that he had landed at the strip to check on four client hunters. During a solo takeoff, a cross wind "picked up the planes wing" and the plane pivoted about its left wing. The event resulted in the separation of the plane's left main wheel mount, and substantial damage to the plane's left wing and rudder.
In a statement (attached) the pilot said that during the takeoff run, a small bump in the runway and a left cross wind brought the airplane's left wing up and the aircraft became uncontrollable despite aileron and rudder input in the opposite direction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N99PJ
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7509141
- Airframe hours
- 1,276
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-150, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- Gary Larose, doing business as Gary Larose, Guide
- Registered owner
- Gary R. Larose
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 21, 1993 · 75 hours before
- Airport
- Upper Olds Creek Strip, runway 27, 600 × 40 ft, gravel
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
- 35
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 3,500 total · 150 in this make and model · 75 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 8 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 50 °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.
Other investigations on N99PJ · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.