Alder Creek Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Alder Creek, Alaska
Sunday, June 18, 1989 17:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT RPRTD HE LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT DURING TAKEOFF ON A SOFT/ROUGH STRIP COVERED WITH LOW BUSHES. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WENT OFF THE RWY, RAN INTO ALDERS, & NOSED OVER. THE PLT BELIEVED THE ACDNT MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED, IF THE STRIP HAD BEEN MOWED SO THAT ITS ROUGH AREAS WOULD HAVE BEEN SEEN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN (UNIMPROVED STRIP) BY THE PILOT. SOFT/UNEVEN TERRAIN & LOW BUSHES ON THE STRIP, AS WELL AS ALDERS BESIDE THE STRIP, WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/18/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone --
Event City ALDER CREEK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ALDER CREEK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 2000
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 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
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) 407
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 19 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1200
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38908
Date of most recent change to record Dec 18 2002 11:28AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\GIUV
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4912Z
NTSB Number ANC89LA101
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-22-108
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-108
Aircraft Serial Number 228998
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
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 Aug 6 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 7
Airframe Hours 2864
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PHILIP A. LEFLER
Aircraft Owner Street Address WEST 4009 89TH STREET, APT. B
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 --
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 0
Departure Time Zone
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 6
Runway Length 950
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --