NORTH POLE, AK, USA
N1724P
Piper PA-22
The pilot and a passenger were departing from a private airstrip. During the takeoff roll, the airplane's left main tire entered a rut, and veered to the left. The left main tire then entered an area of tall grass located along the left edge of the airstrip. The left wingtip then struck a tree. The airplane pivoted about 180 degrees to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing, and the right elevator, struck the ground. The airplane received additional damage to the tailwheel assembly, the fuselage, and the propeller.
On July 13, 1998, about 2130 Alaska daylight time, N1724P, a Piper PA-22 airplane converted to a tailwheel configuration, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a private airstrip, about 23 miles south of North Pole, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, the pilot. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed. In the pilot/operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, the pilot reported he was departing from the Blair Lake Airstrip. The pilot indicated that during the takeoff roll, the airplane's left main tire entered a rut, and veered to the left. The left main tire then entered an area of tall grass located along the left edge of the airstrip. The pilot retarded the engine throttle, but the left wingtip struck a tree. The airplane pivoted about 180 degrees to the left, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane received damage to the wings, the right landing gear, the right elevator, and the tailwheel assembly.
The pilot's selection of unsuitable runway terrain for takeoff, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were uneven/rutted terrain, and high vegetation along the runway edge.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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