Kenai Muni Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kenai, Alaska 99611
Tuesady, August 3, 1999 15:19 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The solo student pilot, on her first cross-country flight, was departing on runway 19R. Just after rotation, the airplane veered to the left, and went off the left side of the 7,575 feet long by 150 foot wide runway. The airplane came to rest in a ditch that borders the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot stated that prior to her being cleared for takeoff, a DeHavilland DHC-8 departed from the opposite direction on the same runway. She said that about 2 minutes elapsed between the larger aircraft's departure, and her departure. The Air Traffic Controller's Manual (FAA order 7110.65M) relating to wake turbulence application, states that a 3-minute interval be observed between departures of large and small aircraft, and the issuance of a wake turbulence advisory before clearing the aircraft for takeoff. The manual identifies a DeHavilland DHC-8 as a large turboprop aircraft, and a Cessna 152 as a small aircraft. Review of air-ground radio communications tapes revealed that the total time separation between the two departures was 1 minute, 49 seconds, with no issuance of a wake turbulence advisory.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of control due to wake turbulence, and the issuance of an improper takeoff clearance by air traffic control personnel. A factor associated with the accident was air traffic control personnel's failure to issue a safety advisory.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/3/1999
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1519
Event Time Zone --
Event City KENAI
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99611
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KENAI MUNI
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ENA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 97
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1452 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 97
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
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) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1492
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 3 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 10 2001 9:43AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N95031
NTSB Number ANC99LA103
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 152
Aircraft Series Identifier 152
Aircraft Serial Number 15285841
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 Jun 23 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 50
Airframe Hours 5960
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ELMENDORF AERO CLUB
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O.BOX 292
Aircraft Owner City ELMENDORF AFB
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99506
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code EDF
Departure City ELMENDORF AFB
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1410
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EDF
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 Jan 10 2001 12:27PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 19R
Runway Length 7575
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --