- Date
- July 13, 1998, 21:30 local (Jul 14, 1998, 05:30 UTC)
- Place
- North Pole, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1724PPiper PA-22
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 28, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19980713021199A
- Case key
- 43065
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 selection of unsuitable runway terrain for takeoff, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were uneven/rutted terrain, and high vegetation along the runway edge.
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 and a passenger were departing from a private airstrip. During the takeoff roll, the airplane's left main tire entered a rut, and veered to the left. The left main tire then entered an area of tall grass located along the left edge of the airstrip. The left wingtip then struck a tree. The airplane pivoted about 180 degrees to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing, and the right elevator, struck the ground. The airplane received additional damage to the tailwheel assembly, the fuselage, and the propeller.
Factual narrative
On July 13, 1998, about 2130 Alaska daylight time, N1724P, a Piper PA-22 airplane converted to a tailwheel configuration, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a private airstrip, about 23 miles south of North Pole, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed.
In the pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported he was departing from the Blair Lake Airstrip. The pilot indicated that during the takeoff roll, the airplane's left main tire entered a rut, and veered to the left. The left main tire then entered an area of tall grass located along the left edge of the airstrip. The pilot retarded the engine throttle, but the left wingtip struck a tree. The airplane pivoted about 180 degrees to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane received damage to the wings, the right landing gear, the right elevator, and the tailwheel assembly.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1724P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-22
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 22-2514
- Airframe hours
- 3,144
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Eric J. Mohrmann
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 1998 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- 2AK1
- Destination
- FAI · Fairbanks, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 2AK1 · Blair Lake, runway 9, 1,500 × ft
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
- 45
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 222 total · 52 in this make and model · 186 as pilot in command · 3 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FAI, 28 nm away
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 N1724P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.