Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Skwentna, Alaska 99667
Saturday, September 5, 1992 11:15 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF FROM A 2500 FT ELEVATION MOUNTAIN RIDGE STRIP, THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO REACH FLYING SPEED, OVERRAN THE STRIP AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A DOWN HILL TAKEOFF INTO WIND ESTIMATED FROM NW AT 25. DATA DEVELOPED BY NWS FROM FOUR LOCATIONS AROUND THE ACCIDENT SITE INDICATED WIND TO BE CONSISTENTLY 10 KTS FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS A VERY EXPEREINCED AIR FORCE F15 PILOT, AND BELIEVED THE CAUSE WAS 'WINDSHEAR' AS 'HE HAD EXPERIENCED VERY SAME THING IN AN F15 SIMULATOR ON TAKEOFF.' HE INDICATED THAT HE DID NOT CALCULATE TAKEOFF DATA, BUT SAID HE, 'KNEW ALL ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE' OF HIS AIRPLANE. THE FLIGHT WAS REPORTED TO BE THE LAST FLIGHT OUT OF THE HUNTING STRIP, BUT THE PASSENGER, GEAR AND EQUIPMENT ON BOARD DID NOT CONSTITUTE AN OVERLOADED CONDITION. HE WAS UNABLE TO RECALL SPECIFIC WEIGHTS.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT MISJUDGED PERFORMANCE CAPABILITY FOR TAILWIND CONDITION CONSIDERING AIRCRAFT LOAD AND TERRAIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: TERRAIN, TAKEOFF AIRSPEED NOT ATTAINED, AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE, PILOT OVERCONFIDENCE IN AIRCRAFT AND PERSONAL ABILITY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/5/1992
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone --
Event City SKWENTNA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99667
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 9
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1145 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 110
Weather Observation Facility ID SKW
Elevation of weather observation facility 148
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 48
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3500
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 3500
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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) 498
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 5 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1545
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47897
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:17PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5106H
NTSB Number ANC92LA158
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-14
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-14
Aircraft Serial Number 14-111
Certified Max Gross Weight 1850
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 89
Airframe Hours 2295
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PENNY R. NIXON
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9919 RELIANCE DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99507
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PENNY R. NIXON
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 9919 RELIANCE DRIVE
Operator City ANCHORAGE
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99507
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1115
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 3:17PM
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 --