Pilot Debrief

Cessna 150 near Talkeetna, AK — 2019-03-16

Final reportANC19LA015
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Date
2019-03-16
Location
Talkeetna, AK, USA
Airport
TKA
Aircraft
Cessna 150
Registration
N7095S
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A loss of pitch control for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a collision with terrain during an emergency landing.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that she initiated the takeoff at the beginning of the runway to use all 3,500 ft of available runway. She added that the flight controls were free and correct and that she applied power with the control yoke full aft for a "soft field" takeoff. The airplane "seemed" to become airborne earlier than normal, and during the initial climb, the nose of the airplane wanted to pitch up slightly. She applied "some" nose-down trim and pushed the yoke forward "slightly," and the airplane continued to climb. As the airspeed increased, the airplane's pitch attitude increased; she then applied full nose-down trim and full forward yoke and asked for help from her student. She then reduced the engine power to idle, performed an emergency landing, and the airplane came to rest in the trees. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Aborting the second takeoff attempt could have prevented the accident.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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