Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lime Village, Alaska 99627
Tuesady, September 15, 2009 17:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The commercial pilot and one passenger were taking off from a gravel-covered, remote off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane on a Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 charter flight when the accident occurred. The pilot related that as the airplane accelerated, it began to turn sharply to the right, and towards a stand of trees. The airplaneā€™s right wing struck the stand of trees, which pivoted it to the right where it nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. A postaccident inspection revealed that the passenger, seated in the rear of the airplane, inadvertently stepped on the right, rear-mounted dual brake pedal, as the pilot began his takeoff run. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the accident could have been prevented if he had removed or covered the rear-mounted dual brake pedals.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The passenger's inadvertent interference with, and application of the right brake pedal during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/15/2009
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone --
Event City Lime Village
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99627
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 613000N
Event Location Longitude 1540700W
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27283
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 14 2010 12:31PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2594M
NTSB Number ANC09LA102
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 12-1037
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Sep 2 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 3283
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name ROBERT L MAGNUSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 111
Aircraft Owner City MC GRATH
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99627-0111
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MAGNUSON AIRWAYS LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 111
Operator City MC GRATH
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99627-0111
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Lime Village
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Lime Village
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 6 2010 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 900
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --