Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kaktovik, Alaska 99747
Friday, August 14, 2009 10:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airline transport pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, personal cross-country flight when the accident occurred. The pilot said during takeoff from an off-airport site, the airplane hit a bump and became airborne prematurely. When the airplane settled to the ground, she said the right main landing gear wheel landed in a depression, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot said the right wing struck the ground, and the airplane veered to the right. The left main landing gear which collapsed, side-loading allowing the left wing to hit the ground. She said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. She said the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/14/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone --
Event City Kaktovik
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99747
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 693000N
Event Location Longitude 1440000W
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 --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26235
NTSB Notification Source FAA Anchorage, ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 23 2009 2:42PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N83278
NTSB Number ANC09CA082
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7709047
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 3
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 --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name MKT LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 67
Aircraft Owner City KAKTOVIK
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99747-0067
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MKT LLC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 67
Operator City KAKTOVIK
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99747-0067
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Kaktovik
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Barter Island
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 27 2009 3:21PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --