# NTSB ANC98LA044: Piper PA-18-160, N4319Z, Talkeetna, AK, May 5, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 5, 1998, 10:08 local (18:08 UTC) - Place: Talkeetna, AK - Coordinates: 62.449756, -149.790115 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4498&lon=-149.7901&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 3135 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA044 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3135/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA044 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight. A factor was the inadvertent activation of the parking brake. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - landing gear,parking brake - activated (contributing factor) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not possible, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run ## Analysis The pilot stated that when the tail came up during the takeoff roll, the tundra tire equipped airplane veered right and departed the side of the runway. He extended the flaps in an attempt to take off, but was below flying speed. Postaccident inspection revealed the GPS antenna cable was lodged in the right parking brake, and the right brake was partially set. ## Factual narrative On May 5, 1998, at 1008 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N4319Z, equipped with 28 inch tundra tires, sustained substantial damage when it departed Runway 36 during takeoff from the Talkeetna Airport, Talkeetna, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and the sole passenger were not injured. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, to move the airplane and occupants to Cold Bay, Alaska, where they were to work as hunting guides for the operator. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a VFR flight plan was filed. During an interview with the NTSB investigator on May 5, the pilot related he was attempting to takeoff on Runway 36. Runway 36 is asphalt covered, and is 3,500 feet long by 75 feet wide. The pilot said the winds were from the northwest at 5 knots. During the takeoff roll, the airplane's tail came up, and the airplane veered to the right. He was unable to maintain directional control, and he lowered the flaps in an attempt to takeoff. He said the airplane was too slow to fly, departed the right side of the runway, and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sat in the ditch about one hour prior to being removed. The people who recovered the airplane stated to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that with the tail lifted up, the airplane rolled on the main landing gear with no abnormalities. The pilot stated in his Pilot / Operator Report that during his taxi to the runway he had to input excessive rudder. He asked his passenger if his foot was on the rear brakes. While inspecting the airplane after the accident, the owner found a Global Positioning System (GPS) antenna cable lodged in the right parking brake, with the brake partially set. The pilot related that prior to the flight, he removed the GPS to become familiar with the unit. He believes that during reinstallation, he did not reconnect the cable, and that this allowed the cable to slip off the dash and lodge in the brake. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4319Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4319Z), registered now, S/N 18-8632, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18-160 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C4P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c4p) (registry code 42289, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8632 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry Jacques - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TKA - Destination: CDB, COLD BAY, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TKA, Talkeetna, runway 36, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 588 total, 200 in this make and model, 588 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TKA ## 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 19980505011329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980505011329A), May 5, 1998: Piper PA18150, Talkeetna, AK, Substantial damage. Lost dirctional control when tail came up on takeoff. Veered off runway. Equipped with large tundra tires. (.4) on may 5, 1998, at 1008 Alaska daylight time, a… ## Other investigations on N4319Z (4) 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 ANC04FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04FA056), May 22, 2004: Piper PA-18-150 (N4319Z), Cold Bay, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of engine power during the final approach to land for an undetermined reason, and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the ensuing emergency descent, which resulted in an… - [NTSB ANC96LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA073), May 17, 1996: Piper PA-18 (N4319Z), Cold Bay, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's excessive taxi speed. Factors associated with the accident were: the pilot's improper preflight inspection of the airplane, and the entanglement of the left main landing gear brake and… - [NTSB ANC91FA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91FA067), Jun 8, 1991: Piper PA-18-150 (N4319Z), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE COLLISION WITH THE WIRES. - [NTSB FTW75FQG25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75FQG25), Oct 16, 1974: Piper PA-18 (N4319Z), San Angelo, TX, substantial damage 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.