Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tyonek, Alaska 99682
Sunday, June 4, 1995 9:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ALASKA STATE TROOPER PILOT LANDED AT AN OFF AIRPORT SITE ADJACENT TO A RIVER TO APPREHEND AN APPARENT VIOLATOR OF THE STATE'S FISH AND GAME LAWS. THE LANDING SITE WAS COVERED WITH LONG GRASS AND POCKETS OF WATER. FOLLOWING THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM THE APPROXIMATELY 1,200' LONG 'STRIP'. THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO BECOME AIRBORNE PRIOR TO REACHING AN AREA OF TALLER GRASS AND DEEPER WATER, AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY GROUND-LOOPED AND NOSED DOWN. NO PRETAKEOFF MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE CLAIMED OR DISCOVERED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR LANDING/TAKEOFF. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT ARE THE LONG AND WET GRASS COVERING THE UNIMPROVED TAKEOFF AREA.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/4/1995
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone --
Event City TYONEK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99682
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 8
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 821
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 8 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:19PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2400S
NTSB Number ANC95TA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Public Use
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18-160
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-160
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7909144
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 4 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 48
Airframe Hours 2325
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name STATE OF ALASKA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4827 AIRCRAFT DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99502
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 945
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code Z41
Destination City ANCHORAGE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 22 2001 3:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --