# Accident 20190901012549A: Piper PA-18AS-125, Neacola Mountai, AK, September 1, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 1, 2019, 16:14 local time
- Place: Neacola Mountai, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.2294° N, 151.7692° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2294&lon=-151.7692&mi=10
- Aircraft: N655HE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N655HE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18AS-125 (registry code 7101816, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18as-125) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18AS-125
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 227 total, 156 in this make and model, 64 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA19CA521](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA521) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190901012549A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED THAT HE PACED THE RUNWAY FOR DISTANCE AND OBSTRUCTIONS AND COMPLETED A PREFLIGHT CHECK PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.  DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT REACHED 15-20 FEET AGL WHEN IT GOT HIT WITH A GUST OF WIND WHICH PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT BACK TOWARD THE GROUND.  ENGINE WAS AT FULL THROTTLE AND PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GAIN ALTITUDE WITHOUT INDUCING A STALL, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RECOVER BEFORE THE MAIN WHEELS CONTACTED THE TUNDRA.  THE LEFT MAIN WHEEL WAS THE FIRST TO TOUCH AS THE TUNDRA WAS UNEVEN, THIS CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO ROTATE TO THE LEFT AND BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE.  AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A SMALL RAVINE HAVING SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR, WINGS AND FUSELAGE.

## 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 GAA19CA521](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA521), Sep 2, 2019: Piper PA18 (N655HE), Beluga, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate climb rate during takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent.

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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