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20150131000792A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-18-150 · Wasilla, AK · January 31, 2015

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
January 31, 2015 · 13:05 local
Place
Wasilla, AK
Phase of flight
Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Collision
Midair collision
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N82735
NTSB investigation
NTSBANC15FA009
Reported as
Piper PA-18-150
Reported engine
Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
1
Pilot’s certificate
Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
545 total192 in this make and model6 in the last 90 days
N82735Registered now · Piper PA-18-150S/N 18-7709183 · Built 1977Airframe modelPiper PA-18-150Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

At about 1300 AKST N82735 departed Wasilla airport (paws) runway 22 after announcing "taxi to runway 22" and "departing runway 22 at Wasilla airport" on 122.8 CTAF. Aircraft climbed to 1500' to 2000' MSL bound for beluga (pabg) with continuation on to lake hood (palh). At approximately 1305 N82735 in cruise collided midair with N78NR near south hollywood airport (67AK). Pilot described sudden flash in upper left corner of his windscreen and believes the other aircraft banked to the left at last second. Pilot now in uncontrolled dive with no elevator authority. Pilot pushed stick forward gaining some control but was unable to recover as aircraft entered trees. The outboard portion of N78NR'S right wing was resting beneath and intertwined with N82735'S left wing. N82735'S propeller had cut the right wing struts of N78NR as aircraft collided.

N82735 pilot was wearing helment with a visor but the sun was in his eyes.

Artex ME406 ELT did activate and broadcast until switched off. ELT and antenna remained attached to fuselage

As the FAA filed it

AT ABOUT 1300 AKST N82735 DEPARTED WASILLA AIRPORT (PAWS) RUNWAY 22 AFTER ANNOUNCING "TAXI TO RUNWAY 22" AND "DEPARTING RUNWAY 22 AT WASILLA AIRPORT" ON 122.8 CTAF. AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO 1500' TO 2000' MSL BOUND FOR BELUGA (PABG) WITH CONTINUATION ON TO LAKE HOOD (PALH). AT APPROXIMATELY 1305 N82735 IN CRUISE COLLIDED MIDAIR WITH N78NR NEAR SOUTH HOLLYWOOD AIRPORT (67AK). PILOT DESCRIBED SUDDEN FLASH IN UPPER LEFT CORNER OF HIS WINDSCREEN AND BELIEVES THE OTHER AIRCRAFT BANKED TO THE LEFT AT LAST SECOND. PILOT NOW IN UNCONTROLLED DIVE WITH NO ELEVATOR AUTHORITY. PILOT PUSHED STICK FORWARD GAINING SOME CONTROL BUT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER AS AIRCRAFT ENTERED TREES. THE OUTBOARD PORTION OF N78NR'S RIGHT WING WAS RESTING BENEATH AND INTERTWINED WITH N82735'S LEFT WING. N82735'S PROPELLER HAD CUT THE RIGHT WING STRUTS OF N78NR AS AIRCRAFT COLLIDED.

N82735 PILOT WAS WEARING HELMENT WITH A VISOR BUT THE SUN WAS IN HIS EYES.

ARTEX ME406 ELT DID ACTIVATE AND BROADCAST UNTIL SWITCHED OFF. ELT AND ANTENNA REMAINED ATTACHED TO FUSELAGE

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC15FA009Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportWasilla, AKBoth pilots’ inadequate visual lookout and failure to see and avoid each other while in level cruise flight, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the obscuration of the other pilot’s visibility due to sun glare.Jan 31, 2015 · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage

Other aircraft in the event · 1

Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.

N78NRPiper PA-18Accident 20150131000802A · Destroyed

Other reports on N82735 · 3

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

Accident 20220728021679ATakeoff: Departure Roll · Mccarthy, AKOn July 28, 2022, at approximately 1200 AKDT, a single engine Piper model PA-18, registration number [privacy data omitted] sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from a remote airstrip near Mccarthy Alaska. The two commercial rated pilots…Jul 28, 2022 · Substantial damageAccident 20020516012879AHolycross, AK(-23) Public use aircraft landed on sandbar during criminal investigation mission. Struck willow tree with right wing tip. Wing tip bow and tail wheel attach point damaged. No injuries.May 16, 2002 · No damageAccident 19950409049509AGlennallen, AK(-16) A Piper PA-18 on wheel skis, operated by the Alaska state troopers, landed on a dry gravel air strip with skis in the down position, and the aircraft flipped over on its back. Airman received remedial training from the Alaska state troopers aviation…Apr 9, 1995 · Substantial damage