# NTSB ANC96LA113: Sportsman 2+2, N5045X, Wasilla, AK, August 3, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 3, 1996, 09:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 2870 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC96LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/2870/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's low altitude skidding maneuver. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Abrupt maneuver, takeoff - initial climb - low altitude flight/maneuver - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot reported he was taking off from a private lake in his float-equipped amateur-built experimental airplane. Shortly after lift-off, he saw another airplane departing a private airstrip near the opposing shoreline. The pilot said a collision was not imminent, but he elected to skid the airplane to the left to provide better separation. He said he was unable to recover from the skid, and the airplane quit flying, subsequently colliding with trees near the shore. ## Factual narrative On August 3, 1996, about 0945 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Sportsman 2+2 amateur built experimental airplane, N5045X, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip near Wasilla, Alaska. The solo airline transport certificated pilot was not injured. The local, 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge on August 4, the pilot said that soon after liftoff from Shaw's Tri Lakes, he saw a wheel equipped airplane taking off from the adjacent airstrip. He said that collision with the other airplane wasn't an issue, but that he elected to skid the airplane to the left to add greater separation. He said after he kicked the airplane to the left, it quit flying and stalled into the trees. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5045X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5045X), registered now, S/N 42, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SPORTSMAN 2+2 - Registry model: [Selby George P SPORTSMAN 2+2](https://openairdocs.org/model/selby-george-p-sportsman-2-plus-2) (registry code 9570341) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 42 - Airframe hours: 181 - Engines: Lycoming 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gerald D. Parnham - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 1996, 2 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13,200 total, 2 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 107 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 80 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °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 19960803020769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960803020769A), Aug 3, 1996: Amtrva SPORTMANVJ22, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Float plane departed lake veered on climbout avoiding plane climbout from adjacent strip. Stalled into trees. ## Other investigations on N5045X (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 ANC20CA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA039), Mar 27, 2020: Wag-Aero Sportsman 2+2 (N5045X), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff from an icy ski strip in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in the left wing impacting a tree. 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.