# Accident 20200516006839A: Piper PA-18, Farewell, AK, May 16, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 16, 2020, 09:40 local time
- Place: Farewell, AK
- Airport: Hinkes
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.5089° N, 153.8978° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.5089&lon=-153.8978&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5478H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5478H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18 (registry code 7101802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-235 series (registry code 41505, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 698 total, 56 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20CA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA047) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200516006839A

## Narrative

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

PILOT ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 11 AT HINKES REMOTE PRIVATE AIRSTRIP 56AK AND ENCOUNTERED WIND GUST DURING ROTATION. RIGHT WING LIFTED UPWARD CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO VEER INTO TREES SITUATED ALONG LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY. PRIOR TO TAKEOFF FROM BIRCHWOOD AIRPORT, PILOT OBTAINED WEATHER BRIEFING FROM FSS AND FILED FLIGHT PLAN. NO ENROUTE WEATHER REPORTING AVAILABLE AT OR NEAR DESTINATION AIRPORT IN FAREWELL. METAR PABV 161256Z AUTO 12003KT 10SM CLR 07/02 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP165 T00670017 METAR PAWS 161256Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM CLR 04/02 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP164 T00440022. PILOT STATED WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE AT 5 KNOTS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF AT HINKES AIRSTRIP. PASSENGER STATED NO EXCESSIVE WINDS OR GUSTS OBSERVED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.

## 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 ANC20CA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA047), May 16, 2020: Piper PA 18 (N5478H), McGrath, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and impacted with the ground.

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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