Port Heiden Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Port Heiden, Alaska 99549
Tuesady, October 16, 1990 15:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND CRASHED DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF WITH A 15 KNOT CROSSWIND. HE STATED THAT HE HAD ONLY 2 HOURS IN PA-14 AIRPLANE, AND ONLY ABOUT 13 HOURS IN TAILWHEEL TYPE AIRPLANES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE CROSSWIND, PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND, THE SOFT RUNWAY, AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/16/1990
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone --
Event City PORT HEIDEN
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99549
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PORT HEIDEN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PTH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 86
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1500 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID PTH
Elevation of weather observation facility 86
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 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1598
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 16 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1625
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42868
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 5:26PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4290H
NTSB Number ANC91LA007
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 14-94
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JEFF W. GRAHAM
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 10
Aircraft Owner City PORT HEIDEN
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99549
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name THOMAS M. LARET, JR.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address HC 78, BOX 2243
Operator City CHUGIAK
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99567
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
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 Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 4400
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --