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August 29, 1993 · Piper PA-18 · N6819L

Happy Valley, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 29, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Happy Valley, AK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18
Tail Number
N6819L
Operator
Watkins Thomas F
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ANC93LA160

THE PILOT, INVOLVED IN A HUNT/GUIDE OPERATION, STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT AND HE COULD NOT CORRECT SUFFICIENTLY BEFORE IT WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE TAKEOFF AREA. BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND BOTH WINGS AND THE FUSELAGE WERE DAMAGED. THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF WITH A PASSENGER, FROM AN UNIMPROVED REMOTE SITE APPROXIMATELY 700 FEET LONG.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR WAS THE ROUGH/UNEVEN TERRAIN.

Full Narrative

On August 28, 1993, at 1600 Alaska daylight time, the pilot of a wheel equipped Piper PA 18 airplane, N6819L, lost control of the airplane and crashed during an attempted takeoff from a remote strip located 21 miles west of Happy Valley, Alaska, and approximately 100 miles south of Deadhorse, Alaska. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and a company flight plan was filed. When the pilot reported the accident by telephone on August 30, 1993, he stated the following in part: "I was taking off from a tundra strip about 700 feet long. I had previously made 6 or 8 takeoffs and landings at that strip. I started the takeoff run with no flaps, then put in one notch of flaps when I got up some speed. The airplane did not seem to want to get airborne. I might have been a little late getting the tail off the ground. The airplane veered off the left and I could not correct sufficiently before it went off the side of the strip. The main landing gear collapsed, both wings were damaged, and the fuselage was twisted."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 AKDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18
Tail NumberN6819L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWatkins Thomas F
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2B · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 41 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingOvercast 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 41 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data