Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Port Alsworth, Alaska 99653
Monday, May 31, 2010 20:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was departing from a gravel bar when the accident occurred. He stated that prior to the takeoff he examined the gravel bar for the firmest ground for the takeoff roll. After the tail came up during the takeoff roll, the pilot realized that he was not aligned along his intended takeoff path. The pilot was not able to abort the takeoff roll and rolled from the gravel bar to the water. The airplane came to rest in the water inverted, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot verified that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff and inability to abort the takeoff, resulting in an overrun into the water.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/31/2010
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2030
Event Time Zone --
Event City Port Alsworth
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99653
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 602419N
Event Location Longitude 1534837W
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2047 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID PALJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 280
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 19
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.51
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) 27402
NTSB Notification Source FAA ANC 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 6 2010 4:35PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9217D
NTSB Number ANC10CA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-22-160
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 22-6277
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 9 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2639
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WALSH JAMES E
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PORT ALSWORTH
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99653
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Daniel Walsh
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Port Alsworth
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99653
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 No
Departure Airport Code PALJ
Departure City Port Alsworth
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2000
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Port Alsworth
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 6 2010 4:35PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --