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20200528009319A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Piper PA-18-150 · Sterling, AK · May 28, 2020

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
May 28, 2020 · 10:00 local
Place
Sterling, AK
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Rotation
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N7164B
NTSB investigation
NTSBANC20CA051
Reported as
Piper PA-18-150
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
1
Pilot’s certificates
Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours
6,000 total5,300 in this make and model1 in the last 90 days
N7164BRegistered now · Piper PA-18-150S/N 18-5190 · Built 1956Airframe modelPiper PA-18-150Engine 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.

Pilot took off from private airstrip which is located approx. 9 miles northeast of sxq airport. Runway is grass with large trees bordering the runway. Weather conditions at time reported at sxq was clear, 14/00, wind 010@4 KTS.

Just as aircraft lifted off runway, it drifted to the left and the left wingtip caught a tree. Aircraft veered to left and struck large cottonwood trees, coming to abrupt stop and nosing over. Aircraft was stuck between two large trees. Pilot was evacuated from aircraft through the broken windshield area. Damage to aircraft is substantial, including bent main fuselage, bent wings, cork-screwed propeller, and abrupt stoppage to engine.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT TOOK OFF FROM PRIVATE AIRSTRIP WHICH IS LOCATED APPROX. 9 MILES NORTHEAST OF SXQ AIRPORT. RUNWAY IS GRASS WITH LARGE TREES BORDERING THE RUNWAY. WEATHER CONDITIONS AT TIME REPORTED AT SXQ WAS CLEAR, 14/00, WIND 010@4 KTS.

JUST AS AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF RUNWAY, IT DRIFTED TO THE LEFT AND THE LEFT WINGTIP CAUGHT A TREE. AIRCRAFT VEERED TO LEFT AND STRUCK LARGE COTTONWOOD TREES, COMING TO ABRUPT STOP AND NOSING OVER. AIRCRAFT WAS STUCK BETWEEN TWO LARGE TREES. PILOT WAS EVACUATED FROM AIRCRAFT THROUGH THE BROKEN WINDSHIELD AREA. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT IS SUBSTANTIAL, INCLUDING BENT MAIN FUSELAGE, BENT WINGS, CORK-SCREWED PROPELLER, AND ABRUPT STOPPAGE TO ENGINE.

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 ANC20CA051Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · Data collectionFinal reportSterling, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with trees.May 28, 2020 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N7164B · 2

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

Accident 20000217042069ARoll-Out (Fixed Wing) · Willow, AK(-23) On February 15th 2000 the pilot of super cub N7164B was attempting to land on the snow covered yenta river 45 miles west of anchorage Alaska. N7164B was equipped with 30" tundra tires. The pilot made several low passes to check out the landing site and…Feb 17, 2000 · Substantial damageAccident 19800515018249ALevel Off Touchdown · Iliamna, AKLost control during level off for landing in shifting, gusty winds. Nosed up on camp airstrip.May 15, 1980 · Substantial damage