Summary
On July 20, 1997, a Piper PA-18-150 (N6822L) was involved in an incident near Wasilla, AK. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff. Factors were the intentional relinquishing of controls by the pilot, and interference with the rudder controls by the nonpilot passenger.
On July 19, 1997, at 1730 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N6822L, was destroyed when it departed the runway and struck trees at the owner's private airstrip located at mile 10, Knik-Goose Bay Road, 10 miles south of Wasilla, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and single passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Garry T. Lynch of Wasilla, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, with calm winds.
The pilot, who was seated in the front seat, stated that he was conducting high speed taxi practice, with no intent for flight. He told the NTSB investigator that he gave control to his 18 year old son, who was in the back seat.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC97LA107. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N6822L.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff. Factors were the intentional relinquishing of controls by the pilot, and interference with the rudder controls by the nonpilot passenger.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 19, 1997, at 1730 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N6822L, was destroyed when it departed the runway and struck trees at the owner's private airstrip located at mile 10, Knik-Goose Bay Road, 10 miles south of Wasilla, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot and single passenger were not injured. The airplane was owned and operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by Garry T. Lynch of Wasilla, Alaska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, with calm winds.
The pilot, who was seated in the front seat, stated that he was conducting high speed taxi practice, with no intent for flight. He told the NTSB investigator that he gave control to his 18 year old son, who was in the back seat. The son caught his feet in the rudder pedals, the airplane became airborne, then departed the 1,000 foot long, 75 foot wide, gravel airstrip and impacted the trees.
A witness who reported the accident to the Alaska State Troopers, stated that he saw the airplane impact trees at ten feet above the ground.
A review of FAA records revealed that the pilot's medical certificate was expired. The last annual inspection conducted on the airplane was in 1988.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC97LA107