N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kenai, Alaska 99611
Monday, April 21, 2014 19:05 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was taking off from a sloping beach in his tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot stated that the tide had come in, narrowing his takeoff path. During the takeoff roll, the airplane's right main landing gear tire hit an object on the beach, the airplane pivoted to the left, and the left wing struck a group of alders. The airplane ground looped, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff, resulting in a collision with terrain and ground loop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/21/2014
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1905
Event Time Zone --
Event City Kenai
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99611
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 600934N
Event Location Longitude 1524205W
Event Location Airport N/A
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 53 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 59
Weather Observation Facility ID PAEN
Elevation of weather observation facility 92
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 50
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
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) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR PAEN 220053Z 35008KT 10SM CLR 13/M02 A2993 R
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) 32769
NTSB Notification Source FAA Regional Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2014 8:28PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9299D
NTSB Number ANC14CA023
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA 18A 150
Aircraft Series Identifier A150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-6606
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 85
Airframe Hours 3017
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name HILL DAVID R
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City EAGLE RIVER
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 995778674
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name HILL DAVID R
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City EAGLE RIVER
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 995778674
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code PABV
Departure City Chugiak
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone AKD
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Kenai
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2014 8:28PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --