Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-18-150 near Anchorage, AK — 2009-11-14

Final reportANC10CA008
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Date
2009-11-14
Location
Anchorage, AK, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-18-150
Registration
N3797Z
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to land and attempt to takeoff from an unsuitable off-airport site.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot was taking off in a tundra tire-equipped airplane from a snow-covered off-airport site, on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. He reported that during the takeoff roll the main wheels struck a snowdrift, and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and wing lift struts. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and noted in his report to the NTSB that he should not have landed at the off-airport site with a wheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that after the accident he manually activated the airplane’s 406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), and within 20 minutes of doing so, he received a cell phone call from the airplane’s owner inquiring about the accident.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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