# NTSB ANC99LA075: Piper PA-18, N2668P, Big Lake, AK, June 11, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 11, 1999, 15:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Big Lake, AK - Coordinates: 61.460117, -150.089736 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4601&lon=-150.0897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 46567 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46567/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA075 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent stall during takeoff. Factors associated with the accident are wind gusts and turbulence. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot was departing a gravel airstrip bordered by trees in his short takeoff and landing (STOL) equipped airplane. About 100 feet above the ground, he reported he encountered turbulence, and lost control of the airplane. The airplane collided with trees near the airstrip. Postaccident inspection of the airplane disclosed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 1999, about 1540 Alaska daylight time, a Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N2668P, sustained substantial damage during takeoff at the Goose Bay airstrip, about 10 miles south of Big Lake, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was en route to Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 11, the pilot reported that he departed on runway 07. During the initial climb, about 100 feet above the ground, he said he encountered turbulence and windshear, and the airplane abruptly rolled to the right. He said he responded with abrupt aileron control input to the left, but the airplane did not respond, and indicated the controls felt "mushy, and ineffective." He was unable to regain control of the airplane, and it nosed down and collided with trees bordering the airstrip. He estimated the wind to be easterly, at 15, gusting to 25, knots. The pilot also noted in his NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report, that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The IIC interviewed another pilot who departed the same runway about 15 minutes prior to the accident airplane. This pilot reported moderate low level turbulence on initial climb. When he returned about 45 minutes later (about 30 minutes after the accident flight), he said the level of turbulence had increased, and he was forced to use full aileron control deflection during the approach and landing. An FAA airworthiness inspector went to the accident site the day of the accident and inspected the airplane. He reported to the NTSB IIC that all the flight controls were attached to their appropriate controls, and appeared functional. He discovered no evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomaly. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the propeller and left wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2668P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2668P), registered now, S/N 18-4392, built 1955 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - 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: 184392 - Airframe hours: 2540 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William E. Dam - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 1999, 4 hours before - Departed: MRI, ANCHORAGE, AK - Destination: MRI, AK - Airport: Z40, Goose Bay, runway 7, 3,000 × 75 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 5,026 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 3,956 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °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 19990611006859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990611006859A), Jun 11, 1999: Piper PA18150, Goose Bay, AK, Substantial damage. Acft crashed on take-off and sustained substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (From .19) on June 11, 1999, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a… 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.