What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On September 17, 2003, at about 1430 local time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane sustained substantial damage when it collided with the ground after takeoff from a remote ridgeline approximately 38 miles southwest of sparrevohn, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under 14 CFR part 91 operations. The private certificated pilot was the sole occupant, he sustained minor injuries as a result of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he was departing the ridge to the north with approximately 25 knots of wind, and just after departure, the left wing dropped and impacted the ground.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2003, AT ABOUT 1430 LOCAL TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE RIDGELINE APPROXIMATELY 38 MILES SOUTHWEST OF SPARREVOHN, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 OPERATIONS. THE PRIVATE CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, HE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS DEPARTING THE RIDGE TO THE NORTH WITH APPROXIMATELY 25 KNOTS OF WIND, AND JUST AFTER DEPARTURE, THE LEFT WING DROPPED AND IMPACTED THE GROUND.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N18PX · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.