# Accident 20150308003019A: Piper PA-18-150, Talkeetna, AK, March 8, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 8, 2015, 15:00 local time
- Place: Talkeetna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.1783° N, 150.1747° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.1783&lon=-150.1747&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5348T, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5348T) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-320 series (registry code 41509, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,300 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC15CA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA014) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150308003019A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS TAKING OFF FROM A ROAD IN THE COUNTRY 15 MILES SOUTH OF TALKEETNA, AK (TKE).  THE ROAD WAS SNOW AND ICE COVERED.  THE ROAD HAD TIRE TRACKS FROM A VEHICLE IN THE SNOW ABOUT 3" DEEP THAT HAD FROZEN OVER.  AS THE PIC WAS TAKING OFF, HIS LANDING GEAR TIRE GOT CAUGHT IN THE RUT FROM THE FROZEN CAR WHEEL TRACKS.  AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH THE PIC MADE A CORRECTION TO GET OUT OF THE RUT WHICH FORCED HIM INTO A 2' SNOW BERM ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.  THE RESULT OF IMPACTING THE SNOW BERM RAISED THE AIRPLANE AND LOWERED HIS RIGHT WING DOWN INTO THE GROUND.  THE RIGHT WING WAS BENT AND SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.

## 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 ANC15CA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA014), Mar 8, 2015: Piper PA18 - 150 (N5348T), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff from an icy surface in gusty wind 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.