Accident Overview
On September 22, 2021, at about 1926 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-14 airplane (registration N4276H) was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Chickaloon, Alaska. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The commercial pilot seated in the left seat sustained minor injuries, while the commercial pilot in the right seat was not injured.
Flight Details
The accident flight was the first flight after the airplane’s annual inspection. The left-seat pilot was flying at the time of the accident; the right-seat pilot was the pilot-in-command. Before departure, the pilots completed a thorough preflight inspection, and an engine run-up revealed no anomalies. The takeoff was uneventful until immediately after lifting off, when the engine lost power, regained power momentarily, and then lost power again. Insufficient runway remained on which to land, and the airplane impacted an area of tree- and brush-covered terrain and nosed over. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, wing struts, and rudder.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal any anomalies that would have resulted in a loss of engine power.
Weather Conditions
Weather conditions were conducive to the development of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power.