The Piper PA 18-150 pilot was attempting to takeoff from a public street in Wasilla, Alaska, but the airplane would not climb, and struck a light pole, sustaining substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
The pilot stated that he failed to remove heavy frost from the airplane prior to the takeoff attempt.
The NTSB determined the probable cause of the accident as the pilot’s improper preflight inspection, and failure to remove heavy frost from the airplane prior to attempting a takeoff.
NTSB Identification: ANC13CA107
This August 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
I received an education in my old 7AC Champ one January morning. I thought why not try this “frost avoidance” business, so I did. The engine ran great in the winter air and the plane accelerated well too. But it would not climb even above power-off gliding speed. So, I pulled throttle and returned to the ramp and got the broom out of the car. I swept the wings and tail surfaces off pretty well and then tried the T.O. again. Boy, what a difference that made. The lift off speed was below the power off stall speed with the engine dragging the plane off the ground. By the time I got to my next airport for work the wind had removed all remnants of that frosty morning. Try it sometime by yourself for education only. It will act as if you are well over gross weight.
Why offload the task to Todd Palin? His wife Sarah is also a certificated pilot, but she would know better than to try such a attempt.
My Sarah Palin-based comment didn’t appear; probably wasn’t Conservative enough. Your website, our choice whether to bother to read it.
Sorry–there it is.
Pilot to investigator in [former Wasilla mayor] Sarah Palin style: “(wink) My husband Todd coulda done it, ‘cuz that airplane was so much like a snowmobile. And then flown the thing to Russia in ten minutes, darn it!”
Public street takeoff attempt?
The effect of frost on aircraft wing airfoils killing lift was taught to me while learning to fly in Minnesota. I soloed at -11F! An Alaskan pilot should have known better.
In the pilot/operator’s report in the NTSB docket the pilot stated that he “Failed to completely remove heavy frost before takeoff.” He rationalized that ” Due to the amount and type of frost combined with load and short takeoff area plane failed to gain altitude. Aircraft remained In ground effect until hitting a stationary object and coming to a rest.”
Apparently, despite “4500+ hours” and “150+” hours in the aircraft, the pilot still does not understand the affect frost has on air flow adhesion to the wing. It also looks like he doesn’t understand the large reduction in lift that is possible when even small amounts of frost are present.
I can’t help wondering if his name will appear in a future NTSB accident report.
Pilot to Investigator responding in Cher Bono style: “Duh, I dunno why I do the things I do….”