# Accident 20190922018229A: Piper PA-18, Beluga, AK, September 22, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 22, 2019, 18:00 local time
- Place: Beluga, AK
- Airport: Na
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 69.2198° N, 146.7908° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=69.2198&lon=-146.7908&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7071B, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7071B) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18 (registry code 7101802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C90 series (registry code 17009, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0320-B2B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 125 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC19LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA054) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190922018229A

## Narrative

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

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^(PIC) STATED PRIOR TO LANDING HIS PLANE, HE OBSERVED THE AREA AND ONCE ON THE GROUND HE USED A RANGE FINDER TO OBTAIN APPROXIMATE DISTANCE FOR THE WATER TAKEOFF.  PIC STATED HE LOADED APPROXIMATELY 80 LBS. OF MOOSE MEAT IN THE BACK OF THE AIRCRAFT.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ALSO STATED THERE WAS 10 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD WITH EACH PASSENGER WEIGHING AROUND 180 LBS.  PIC STATED THAT HE DID NOT PERFORM A WEIGHT AND BALANCE; JUST ASSESSED.  NO ISSUES NOTED PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.  ON TAKEOFF, AIRCRAFT WITH FULL POWER AND AIRBORNE; THE PLANE SEEMED TO BE STALLING WITH NO CLIMB OUT.  THE PIC DECIDED TO PUT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN RATHER THAN FIGHT THE AIRCRAFT.  PIC STATED THAT HE FELT THERE WAS A POWER LOSS, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED AND STALLED.  PIC ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE TUNDRA, THE RIGHT WING HIT THE GROUND THEN THEN RIGHT FLOAT SUDDENLY HIT, CAUSING THE RIGHT STRUT TO PUNCTURE THE 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 ANC19LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19LA054), Sep 23, 2019: Piper PA 18 (N7071B), Beluga, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to perform a takeoff with an overweight float-equipped airplane, which resulted in diminished climb performance.

## Other reports on N7071B (1)

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

- [Accident 19740618022199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740618022199A), Jun 18, 1974: Piper PA18 (N7071B), Fergus Falls, MN, Substantial damage

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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