- Date
- July 17, 2005, 10:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place
- Yellow Pine, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N721JWPiper PA-18-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Boise FSDO
- FAA report
- 20050717015619A
- Case key
- 62041
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 terrain for takeoff, and his failure to maintain directional control after the aircraft's right main gear contacted a small dirt mound during the takeoff roll at the remote grass airstrip. Factors include the pilot's failure to walk the length of the runway during his pre-flight preparation to insure that it was clear of objects, a hidden object on the takeoff surface (the mound), high vegetation on the runway surface, and trees near the side borders of the airstrip.
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
During the takeoff roll at the remote grass airstrip, the aircraft's right main landing gear hit a mound of dirt created by a burrowing animal, and the aircraft suddenly veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to correct the situation, but he was unable to get the aircraft back on takeoff heading prior to it departing the right side of the airstrip surface. Soon after departing the takeoff surface, the aircraft's landing gear rolled over some nearby large rocks, and the right wing impacted a tree that was located near the side of the airstrip. The pilot did not see the dirt mound during the takeoff roll because it was hidden by tall grass/weeds, and he had not walked the length of the 1,100 foot remote runway looking for obstructions prior to takeoff. According to a note in the Idaho Airports Guide, the surface of this runway is rough and subject to ongoing deterioration, and its usage is limited to "highly experienced" mountain pilots.
Factual narrative
On July 17, 2005, approximately 1000 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150, N721JW, impacted a tree during the takeoff roll at Vines Airstrip, Yellow Pine, Idaho. The private pilot was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which was departing for McCall, Idaho, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.
According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll at the remote grass airstrip, the right main landing gear hit a mound of dirt created by a burrowing animal, and the aircraft suddenly veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to correct the situation, but he was unable to get the aircraft back on takeoff heading prior to it departing the right side of the airstrip surface. Soon after departing the takeoff surface, the aircraft's landing gear rolled over some nearby large rocks, and the right wing impacted a tree that was located near the side of the airstrip.
In a telephone discussion with the NTSB Investigator, the pilot said that he did not see the dirt mound during the takeoff roll because it was hidden by tall grass/weeds. When asked if he had walked the length of the 1,100 foot remote runway looking for obstructions prior to takeoff, he said he had not.
According to a note in the Idaho Airports Guide, the surface of this runway is rough and subject to ongoing deterioration, and its usage is limited to "highly experienced" mountain pilots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N721JW
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1809015
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Larry K. Carpenter
- Registered owner
- Blue Water Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2005
- Departed
- Yellow Pine, ID
- Destination
- KMYL · McCall, ID
- Airport
- Vines Airstrip, runway 09, 1,100 × 30 ft, grass/turf
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
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 1, 2005
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,200 total · 400 in this make and model · 100 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.