# NTSB ANC99LA121: Piper PA-18, N82905, Sleetmute, AK, August 20, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 1999, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Sleetmute, AK - Coordinates: 61.680679, -157.160308 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6807&lon=-157.1603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 23, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 47179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC99LA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47179/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA121 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, which resulted in the airplane colliding with vegetation, knocking the gascolator off the airplane, and fuel starvation of the engine. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - high vegetation - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,gascolator - separation (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - tree(s) ## Analysis During takeoff from an off airport ridgetop landing area, the airplane struck a two inch diameter, four feet tall bush. The pilot said he smelled fuel, and the engine quit. The pilot made a forced landing into trees below the ridge, damaging the right landing gear mount. The engine gascolator separated from the airplane, and was found next to the first bush which the airplane impacted. ## Factual narrative On August 20, 1999, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped, Piper PA-18, N82905, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain after takeoff from an off airport site about 45 miles south-southeast of Sleetmute, Alaska, at 60 degrees 58 minutes north latitude, 157 degrees 22 minutes west longitude. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries, and the one passenger on board was not injured. The airplane was operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Restoration Through Recreation - Alaskan Adventures, of Rocklin, California, in support of the owner's hunting-guide business. The flight was departing a ridgetop landing area for the guide's camp on the Hoholitna River, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 23, the pilot stated that during the takeoff, the airplane struck a two inch diameter, four feet tall bush. He indicated he smelled fuel, and the engine quit. The pilot made a forced landing into trees below the ridge, damaging the right landing gear mount. The engine gascolator separated from the airplane, and was found next to the first bush which the airplane impacted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82905](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82905), registered now, S/N 18-7709197, built 1977 (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: 18-7709197 - Airframe hours: 3600 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rocky C. Mcelveen - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1999, 90 hours before - Destination: HOHOLITNA RIVER, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 7,500 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 50 °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 19990820013239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990820013239A), Aug 20, 1999: Piper PA18, Sleetmute, AK, Substantial damage. Acft crashed on take-off and sustained substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on August 20, 1999, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a tundra… ## Other investigations on N82905 (3) 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 ANC06CA133](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC06CA133), Sep 18, 2006: Piper PA-18 (N82905), Koliganek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate altitude/clearance from rising terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an in-flight collision with terrain. Factors associated with the… - [NTSB ANC00LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA118), Sep 11, 2000: Piper PA-18 (N82905), Sparrevohn, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent stall/mush during the final approach to land. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's misjudged flare, and the rough and uneven terrain. - [NTSB ANC98LA160](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA160), Sep 25, 1998: Piper PA-18 (N82905), New Stuyahok, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's excessive use of brakes during the landing roll. 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.