Aeropro Cz A220 accident near Mccarthy, Alaska, July 19, 2016
On July 19, 2016 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 2013 Aeropro Cz A220, registered N151J, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Mccarthy, Alaska (Mccarthy airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of control and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident were engine power surges due to the bent carburetor throttle valve lever.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 19, 2016 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mccarthy, Alaska · Mccarthy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeropro Cz A220, built 2013 · all A220s on the register
- Registration
- N151J · registry record · serial 37513
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll in the experimental amateur-built light-sport airplane, the engine began surging. He was unable to compensate for the sudden increase in left turning tendency when the engine power increased, and subsequently experienced a loss of control. Video footage of the accident was consistent with the pilot's statement. Examination of the engine, which was equipped with a two-carburetor system, revealed that one carburetor throttle valve lever was bent inward and made contact with the carburetor chamber top. While manipulating the throttle control from inside the cockpit, the throttle valve lever was observed moving only slightly before contacting the carburetor chamber top, which restricted its movement. This resulted in the carburetor being at the idle position during the point of contact. The other carburetor was free of anomalies and operated as designed. During an engine test run with an exemplar engine of the same make and model, the carburetor throttle valve lever was modified to duplicate that found on accident engine. The engine was run at various power settings before applying full power. At full engine power, the carburetor throttle valve lever stuck against the chamber top and the engine ran rough and would not accelerate to maximum rpm. The carburetor throttle valve lever was then manually pushed forward past the point of contact on the carburetor chamber top, resulting in a burst of engine power immediately followed by smooth engine operation at maximum rpm.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Damaged/degraded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 558 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 433 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 23, 2015
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 179.1 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 22, 2016; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,235 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 179 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 15Z Mccarthy AK
- Destination: IYS Wasilla AK
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 16 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from PAVD, 98 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC16LA047.