Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA 18-150 near Dillingham, AK — 2015-07-21

Final reportANC15LA056
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Date
2015-07-21
Location
Dillingham, AK, USA
Airport
0Z3
Aircraft
PIPER PA 18-150
Registration
N8761C
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper decision to continue a takeoff even though the airplane was not airborne by the planned takeoff decision point.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was conducting a personal flight in the float-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that, after reaching the planned takeoff decision point, the airplane was not airborne, so he applied full flaps, and the airplane then immediately became airborne. The airplane climbed to about 40 ft above ground level, but it had insufficient airspeed to continue climbing and subsequently stalled. In an attempt to avoid impacting the trees ahead, the pilot initiated a left bank, and the airplane subsequently impacted a flat area of muskeg adjacent to the waterway. A postaccident engine examination revealed no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot should not have continued the takeoff given that the airplane had not become airborne by the planned decision takeoff point.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff after realizing insufficient airspeed.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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