20150419006979A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18A 150 · Nondalton, AK · April 19, 2015

Date: April 19, 2015 · 15:30 local
Place: Nondalton, AK
Airport: Nondalton
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N2894Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC15CA022
Reported as: Piper PA-18A 150
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,590 total450 in this make and model64 in the last 90 days

N2894ZRegistered now · Piper PA-18A 150S/N 18-7078 · Built 1959 Airframe modelPiper PA-18A 150 Engine 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.

Airman planned landing at Nondalton to tranfer fuel. Airman encountered strong winds and turbulence while approaching the airport. After transfering fuel, the airman walked the runway to evaluate the winds. The airman elected to take off despite wind concerns. Airman stated that he encountered sudden strong gust while attempting to climb out of ground effect. The airman stated that the gust was so strong and sudden that he did not have time to react before he found himself upside down in the ditch.

As the FAA filed it

AIRMAN PLANNED LANDING AT NONDALTON TO TRANFER FUEL. AIRMAN ENCOUNTERED STRONG WINDS AND TURBULENCE WHILE APPROACHING THE AIRPORT. AFTER TRANSFERING FUEL, THE AIRMAN WALKED THE RUNWAY TO EVALUATE THE WINDS. THE AIRMAN ELECTED TO TAKE OFF DESPITE WIND CONCERNS. AIRMAN STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED SUDDEN STRONG GUST WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. THE AIRMAN STATED THAT THE GUST WAS SO STRONG AND SUDDEN THAT HE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO REACT BEFORE HE FOUND HIMSELF UPSIDE DOWN IN THE DITCH.

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 ANC15CA022Accident · Serious injuriesData collectionFinal reportNondalton, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while taking off with a gusting crosswind.Apr 19, 2015 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N2894Z · 1

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

Accident 19831216061469AFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Sterling, AKPilot flew into freezing rain and engine would not continue running. Crash occurred during emergency landing.Dec 16, 1983 · Substantial damage