# NTSB ANC95LA134: Piper PA-18, N7459L, Cordova, AK, August 9, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 1995, 21:30 local (Aug 9, 1995, 05:30 UTC) - Place: Cordova, AK - Coordinates: 60.78981, -145.60997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7898&lon=-145.6100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 6, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2712 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC95LA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2712/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95LA134 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE INTENDED TAKEOFF AREA DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PILOT FATIGUE AND THE PROXIMITY OF ROCKS/BOULDERS TO THE TAKEOFF AREA. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - rock(s)/boulder(s) (contributing factor) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - fatigue, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, takeoff ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE, UNIMPROVED LANDING SITE. HE STATED THAT HE HAD ABOUT 300 POUNDS OF DEER MEAT IN THE BACK OF THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT HE WAS TIRED AND SHOULD HAVE SLEPT, BUT HE DECIDED TO TAKEOFF INSTEAD OF SPENDING THE NIGHT. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AS THE AIRPLANE BECAME LIGHT ON THE WHEELS, IT DRIFTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TAKEOFF AREA. ONE OF THE WHEELS HIT SOME BOULDERS AND SLOWED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE THEN CONTINUED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE AND NOSED OVER IN BRUSH. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 1995, at 2130 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7459L, registered to and operated by the pilot, crashed on takeoff from a mountain top on Montague Island, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing the accident site and the destination was Girdwood, Alaska. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated he landed on a remote, off airport, landing site on top of a mountain. He described the landing area as uphill with a field elevation of 1,000 feet above mean sea level. He estimated the landing area to be 500 to 600 feet in length and the surface was very rough. The pilot stated he landed approximately 1430, hunted for a short time, shot four deer, and prepared the meat for transport. He said that after he "dressed out" the deer, the meat weighed 300 pounds. He said that the time was 2115 when he completed the task. He said he was tired and he should have slept on the mountain, but he elected to takeoff. The pilot stated he did not walk the takeoff area, as he normally does, to establish "visual cues." He started his takeoff roll in the downhill direction. He said that as the airplane was getting light on its wheels, it drifted off the right side of the takeoff area. The wheels struck some large boulders and the airplane slowed down. The airplane continued off the right side of the takeoff area and nosed over in the brush. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7459L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7459L), registered now, S/N 18-7509054, built 1975 (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: 18-7509054 - Airframe hours: 3126 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John W. Mulholand - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 26, 1994, 92 hours before - Destination: AQY, GIRDWOOD, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 7,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 90 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 19950808023839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950808023839A), Aug 8, 1995: Piper PA18150, Cordova, AK, Substantial damage. Tried depart short rough mountaintop strip at gross weight. Struck rocks. Veered off strip. Nosed 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.