Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Near Talkeetna, Alaska 99676
Thursday, September 21, 1989 17:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT TOLD THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER TO LEAN FORWARD FOR TAKEOFF. JUST AFTER LIFT OFF, AT APRX 10 TO 20 FT AGL, THE ENG STOPPED PRODUCING POWER. THE PILOT SWITCHED FUEL TANKS, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND & THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED TO A STOP. A TEST RUN OF THE ENG SHOWED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES. THE PILOT STATED HE BELIEVED THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER 'SNAGGED' THE REAR THROTTLE & INADVERTENTLY PULLED IT TO IDLE WHEN HE LEANED BACK IN HIS SEAT AFTER TAKEOFF. ALSO, THE PLT STATED THAT HE DID NOT CHECK THE THROTTLE POSITION AT THE TIME OF THE POWER LOSS. HE ESTIMATED THERE WAS 10 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PASSENGER'S INADVERTENT INTERFERENCE WITH THE THROTTLE CONTROL, AND LACK OF APPROPRIATE REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE PILOT.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/21/1989
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone --
Event City NEAR TALKEETNA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99676
Event Date Year 1989
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 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 4000
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
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) 1101
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 25 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 39378
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:02PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2460A
NTSB Number ANC89LA173
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-18
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18
Aircraft Serial Number 18-1945
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 12 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 197
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WAYNE KUBAT
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 874867
Aircraft Owner City WASILLA
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99687
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 1700
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 Landing
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 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --