# NTSB ANC97LA107: Piper PA-18-150, N6822L, Wasilla, AK, July 20, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 1997, 17:30 local (Jul 20, 1997, 01:30 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: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3030 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC97LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3030/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA107 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff. Factors were the intentional relinquishing of controls by the pilot, and interference with the rudder controls by the nonpilot passenger. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - relinquishing of control - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - rudder - restricted, passenger (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The airplane impacted trees ten feet above the ground when it departed the 1,000-foot-long by 75-foot-wide runway. The pilot stated that he allowed the nonpilot-passenger to conduct a high speed taxi from the back seat. The passenger's feet became stuck in the rudder pedals, and the airplane became airborne. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 1997, at 1730 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N6822L, was destroyed when it departed the runway and struck trees at the owner's private airstrip located at mile 10, Knik-Goose Bay Road, 10 miles south of Wasilla, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and single passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Garry T. Lynch of Wasilla, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, with calm winds. The pilot, who was seated in the front seat, stated that he was conducting high speed taxi practice, with no intent for flight. He told the NTSB investigator that he gave control to his 18 year old son, who was in the back seat. The son caught his feet in the rudder pedals, the airplane became airborne, then departed the 1,000 foot long, 75 foot wide, gravel airstrip and impacted the trees. A witness who reported the accident to the Alaska State Troopers, stated that he saw the airplane impact trees at ten feet above the ground. A review of FAA records revealed that the pilot's medical certificate was expired. The last annual inspection conducted on the airplane was in 1988. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6822L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6822L), registered now, S/N 18-7409105, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-150 - 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: 18-7409105 - Airframe hours: 1243 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Garry T. Lynch - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 1988, 232 hours before - Departed: PRIVATE STRIP, AK - Destination: AK - Airport: Private Strip, runway 36, 1,000 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 1,480 total, 1,243 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 19970719019049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970719019049A), Jul 19, 1997: Piper PA18150, Wasilla, AK, Destroyed. (.4)The airplane impacted trees ten feet above the ground when it departed the 1,000-foot-long by 75-foot-wide runway. The pilot stated that he allowed the… 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.