Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Willow, Alaska 99688
Sunday, October 9, 2005 17:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot stated that he was departing on a 14 CFR Part 91 flight from an 800-foot long gravel bar, located adjacent to a river. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, as the airplane began to accelerate, he heard an unusual noise, and he elected to abort the takeoff. He said that he was unable to stop the airplane before the airplane went into the river at the departure end of the site. The airplane subsequently nosed over, and sustained structural damage to the wings, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot noted in the recommendation portion of the written report he submitted to the NTSB: "Use longer gravel bar with no departure over water."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, which resulted in an on ground encounter with a river during an aborted takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/9/2005
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone --
Event City Willow
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99688
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 614500N
Event Location Longitude 1513000W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency --
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19095
NTSB Notification Source Alaska State Troopers
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Feb 28 2006 12:35PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5947D
NTSB Number ANC06CA003
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-22
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-4611
Certified Max Gross Weight 2000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Jul 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 47
Airframe Hours 3637
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David J. Payne
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8646 Ruth Drive
Aircraft Owner City Eagle River
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99577
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Willow
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SKW
Destination City Skwentna
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 9 2005 2:37PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --