# Accident 20130830018149A: Piper PA-18A, Tatitna, AK, August 30, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 30, 2013, 20:20 local time
- Place: Tatitna, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.2925° N, 152.3533° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2925&lon=-152.3533&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4581A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC13FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13FA091) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130830018149A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 30, 2013, PA-18 PIPER CUB WAS DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF A POST-CRASH FIRE SHORTLY AFTER IT IMPACTED THE GROUND.  THE NEAR VERTICAL POSITION OF THE AIRCRAFT INDICATED A LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN A STALL-SPIN WHICH OCCURRED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB MOMENTS AFTER DEPARTING THE TATITNA AIRPORT (8KA).

PREVIOUSLY THAT EVENING, PILOT IN COMMAND HAD ACCOMPLISHED 4 TO 5 FLIGHTS TO TRANSFER TWO FAMILY MEMBERS, CARIBOU MEAT AND GEAR FROM AN UNIMPROVED AIRSTRIP LOCATED NEAR FAMILY MEMBER?S HUNTING LOCATION TO THE NEARBY TATITNA AIRPORT.  FROM THE TATITNA AIRPORT, THE AIRMAN?S INTENTION WAS TO SPLIT THE LOAD INTO TWO FLIGHTS, BACK TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION, BIG LAKE, ALASKA.  THE FIRST FLIGHT CONTAINED 90% OF THE CARIBOU MEAT, ANTLERS, (ATTACHED TO THE RIGHT WING STRUTS) AND VARIOUS HUNTING ITEMS. THE AIRCRAFT MAIN TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL THE AIRMAN HAD STASHED FOR THE LONGER LEG HOME.  AT THE LAST MINUTE, THE AIRMAN REQUESTED A FAMILY MEMBER GO WITH HIM TO HELP UNLOAD THE MEAT AT BIG LAKE.  THE AIRMAN AND FAMILY MEMBER DEPARTED THE EAST RUNWAY.  JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, THE FAMILY MEMBER RECALLS THE AIRMAN COMMENTING ON THE UNDERESTIMATED TAILWIND.  MOMENTS LATER, THE AIRCRAFT, PRODUCING POWER, STALLED AND BROKE TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND LESS THAN 1000 YARDS NORTH EAST THE DEPARTURE-END OF THE RUNWAY.  THE FAMILY MEMBER, SOLE SURVIVOR OF THE ACCIDENT, SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND WAS LATER RESCUED.

## 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 ANC13FA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC13FA091), Aug 31, 2013: Piper PA-18A (N4581A), Nikolai, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to load the airplane beyond its allowable takeoff weight and center of gravity limits, which resulted in a loss of control during the initial climb. Contributing to the…

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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