Piper PA-22-160 N9985D

Summary

On 3 September 2009 at about 22:30 local time, a Piper PA-22-160 registered N9985D, operated by Kevin E. Vandegriff, was involved in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 September 2009 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Talkeetna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.4333, -151.1500

Aircraft

Piper PA-22-160

Registration

N9985D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Kevin E. Vandegriff

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Talkeetna → Chugiak

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC09CA095

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing/takeoff area, resulting in a nose over during takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot was taking off from a sand and gravel-covered off-airport site, on a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. He reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane did not become airborne before reaching the end of the site, and the main wheels struck a pool of water at the departure end. The airplane subsequently nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot said there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane, and noted in his report to the NTSB that it was a poor decision to land at the off-airport site.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.