# Accident 19960703020009A: Piper PA18150, Cantwell, AK, July 3, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 3, 1996, 15:50 local time
- Place: Cantwell, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 63.0099° N, 149.4001° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.0099&lon=-149.4001&mi=10
- Aircraft: N57617, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57617) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150
- Reported engine: LYC O320D2G
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,800 total, 5,300 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC96LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA094) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960703020009A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

CROSSWIND GUST CAUSED PLANE TO VEER OFF SANDY STRIP INTO ALDER TREES. GROUND LOOPED. (FROM .4) THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE DEPARTING A REMOTE AND SANDY AREA IN THE TAILWHEEL-EQUIPPED AIRPLANE.  THE PILOT HAD UTILIZED THE AREA MANY TIMES IN THE PAST.  THE TAKEOFF AREA IS ABOUT 1,940 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 70 DEGREES F.  VARIABLE WIND CONDITIONS WERE BLOWING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TAKEOFF AREA WITH GUSTS OF 25 KNOTS.  DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, A GUST OF WIND PUSHED THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT INTO SEVERAL ALDER TREES.  THE AIRPLANE THEN GROUND LOOPED AND RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING SPAR AND LEFT AILERON.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC96LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA094), Jul 3, 1996: Piper PA-18 (N57617), Cantwell, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions. A factor in the accident was the crosswind.

## Other reports on N57617 (4)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20250409003539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250409003539A), Apr 9, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N57617), Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted takeoff with quartering tailwind on a slick iced over lake, aborted takeoff, unable to stop and struck the FAR bank.
- [Accident 19840901045549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840901045549A), Sep 1, 1984: Piper PA18150 (N57617), Slana, AK, Substantial damage. After aircraft touched down on road, gust of wind caused aircraft to veer off of road into bushes.
- [Accident 19820429014029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820429014029A), Apr 29, 1982: Piper PA18150 (N57617), Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. Held brakes on full power runup for a short field takeoff. Foot slipped off brake. Airplane turned up on a wing.
- [Accident 19810724044219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810724044219A), Jul 24, 1981: Piper PA18150 (N57617), Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was dropping objects to person on ground and float hit rock causing aircraft to crash.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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