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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 22, 1994 · Cessna 150J · N61272

Talkeentna, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 22, 1994
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Talkeentna, AK
Aircraft
Cessna 150J
Tail Number
N61272
Operator
Kurtz Daniel M
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC94LA118

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF ON A 950 FOOT GRAVEL AIRSTRIP. HE ABORTED HIS TAKE OFF APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY DOWN THE AIRSTRIP. DURING THE ABORTED TAKE OFF ROLL, THE NOSE WHEEL HIT A SOFT SPOT ON THE AIRSTRIP AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED DOWN.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE UNSUITABLE TAKEOFF AREA SELECTED. A FACTOR WAS THE SOFT SPOT IN THE AIRSTRIP'S SURFACE.

Full Narrative

On August 22, 1994, at 1316 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 150J airplane, N61272, registered to David Drews of Palmer, Alaska, and operated by Daniel Kurtz, the pilot, also of Palmer, struck a soft spot on the runway during takeoff and nosed down on a gravel airstrip located below the Kahiltna Glacier, near Talkeetna, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing the gravel strip and the destination was Palmer. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot and his passenger were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to a passenger, who was waiting to be flown out next, the airplane started the take off and the nose wheel hit a soft, sandy spot. The pilot aborted the take off, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed down. According to the pilot's statement, the take off was aborted when he lost lift approximately 450 feet down the 950 foot long runway. During the aborted take off roll the nose wheel hit a soft spot and collapsed. The airplane was equipped with an O-320-E2A engine capable of producing 150 horsepower. The airplane records showed a Supplemental Type Certificate, however, there were no new performance figures or charts to show if there was any change in performance. According to the airplane owner's manual, at a gross weight condition, the interpolated take off distance for the conditions described by the pilot was 820 feet at a minimum.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:16 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway18
Runway Length950 ft
Runway Width15 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150J
Tail NumberN61272
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorKurtz Daniel M
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2A · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 43 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10 kt
Visibility40 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data