None Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Little Delta Rv, Alaska 99737
Wednesday, August 18, 1993 11:40 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, HE ENCOUNTERED A STRONG GUST OF WIND THAT CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. HE SAID THE LEFT WING SUDDENLY WENT DOWN TO ALMOST 90 DEGREES AND HIT THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE THEN CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO A STOP. THE PILOT, PASSENGER, AND THREE GROUND WITNESSES SAID THE WINDS HAD BEEN VARIABLE AND GUSTY. THE PILOT WAITED ON THE RUNWAY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES FOR MORE FAVORABLE WINDS BEFORE STARTING THE TAKEOFF.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB. FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY WINDS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/18/1993
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1140
Event Time Zone --
Event City LITTLE DELTA RV
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99737
Event Date Year 1993
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport NONE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 60
Airport Elevation 3500
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 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 40
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 11
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1032
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 18 1993 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1745
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:33PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N54938
NTSB Number ANC93LA153
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
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
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7709024
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 30 1993 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 7155
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name LENTSCH, WILLIAM J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 81063
Aircraft Owner City COLLEGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99708
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name LENTSCH, WILLIAM J.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 80163
Operator City COLLEGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99708
Operator Code EQDA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 1:33PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 550
Runway Width 15
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --