# Accident 19980926026599A: Piper PA18150, Sleetmute, AK, September 26, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 26, 1998, 13:30 local time
- Place: Sleetmute, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: B21C
- Location: 61.6798° N, 157.1609° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6798&lon=-157.1609&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5697Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,491 total, 3,084 in this make and model, 211 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA161) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980926026599A

## Narrative

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

AIR TAXI CRASHED ON TAKEOFF UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES AND SUSTAINED SUBS DAMAGE.(-23) THE AIRMAN HAD APPROXIMATELY 160 LBS OF MOOSE MEAT TIED DOWN IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH 1/2 TANKS OF GASOLINE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN WEIGHT AND BALANCE. THE AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF FROM AN OFF AIRPORT LOCATION AT LITTLE TAYLOR MOUNTAIN RIDGE 3 1/2 MILES FROM TAYLOR MOUNTAIN MINE. THERE WAS A 15 GUSTING TO 25 KNOT, 45 DEG TO 60 DEG RIGHT CROSS WIND. THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE AND DRIFTED LEFT, AND OVER THE RIDGE, TOUCHING DOWN COLLAPSING THE MAIN GEAR AND DESTROYING THE LEFT WING HALF WAY OUT FROM THE AILERON TO THE WING TIP. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SLID ON ITS BELLY APPROXIMATELY 300' BEFORE COMING TO REST, BENDING THE FUSELAGE 90 DEG BEHIND THE REAR BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT, ALSO CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE BELLY AND VERTICAL STABILIZER AND TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1998, AT 1400 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-18, TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED AIRPLANE, N5697Y, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT NOSED OVER DURING TAKEOFF FROM AN AIRPORT LANDING SITE, ABOUT 55 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF SLEETMUTE, ALASKA. THE SOLO COMMERCIAL PILOT SUSTAINED            MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY CARL E. BRENT, DBA ALASKA TROPHY CONNECTION, OF WASILLA, ALASKA. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 135, AS AN ON DEMAND AIR TAXI FLIGHT SUPPORTING A HUNTING LODGE. THE FLIGHT WAS DEPARTING FROM A RIDGETOP LANDING SITE TO TRANSPORT CARIBOU MEAT TO THE TAYLOR MOUNTAIN MINE AIRSTRIP, THREE MILES TO THE NORTHWEST. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND A COMPANY VFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE, DURING A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW ON SEPTEMBER 27, THAT THERE WAS A CROSSWIND FROM THE RIGHT, GUSTING TO 20 KNOTS. HE SAID THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN, THE WIND GOT UNDER THE RIGHT WING, AND THE PLANE WAS TOSSED OVER THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RIDGE. (.4) THE AIRPLANE WAS DEPARTING A RIDGETOP SITE WITH A RIGHT CROSSWIND GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE THAT A GUST OF WIND FORCED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RIDGE, AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND.

## 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 ANC98LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA161), Sep 26, 1998: Piper PA-18 (N5697Y), Sleetmute, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control. Contributing factors were the gusty crosswind conditions.

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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