- Date
- December 12, 1995, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Delta Junction, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4589MPiper PA-11
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 18, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19951212041699A
- Case key
- 2795
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 inadequate preflight preparation/planning, and his improper in flight decision making. Factors associated with the accident are the gusty crosswinds and associated turbulence.
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 he was attempting to takeoff in his ski equipped airplane in a gusting crosswind estimated at 25 knots. He said he elected to use the runway subjected to the greatest crosswind because it also had the most amount of snow on it. Soon after becoming airborne, the airplane encountered severe turbulence, and the pilot elected to abort the takeoff. The airplane was not in a position to land on the runway or clear nearby obstructions when the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane subsequently collided with trees adjacent to the runway.
Factual narrative
On December 12, 1995, about 1000 Alaska standard time, a ski equipped Piper PA-11, N4589M, collided with trees during an aborted takeoff at the Delta Junction airport, Delta Junction, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
The pilot reported that he was departing runway 13 and had just lifted off the ground. As the airplane crossed the intersection of runway 08, the pilot encountered severe turbulence and decided to abort the takeoff. The airplane collided with several trees about 15 feet above the ground, about 700 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane received damage to the left wing and fuselage.
The pilot indicated that the weather conditions at the time were: Sky condition and ceiling, 3,000 feet overcast; visibility, 30 miles; temperature, 0 degrees F; wind, 090 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 25 knots.
The pilot wrote in his report to the NTSB, under the heading: Recommendation (How Could This Accident Been Prevented): "Waiting for lighter winds or sufficient snow cover to utilize the airstrip pointed into the wind."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4589M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-11
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 11-92
- Airframe hours
- 5,983
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard T. Gardner
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 28, 1995 · 56 hours before
- Departed
- D66
- Airport
- D66 · Delta Junction, runway 13, 1,800 × 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
- 34
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 249 total · 238 in this make and model · 196 as pilot in command · 21 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Temperature
- -0 °F
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 N4589M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.