# Accident 20210809013619A: Piper PA-18, Stephan Lake, AK, August 9, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 9, 2021, 20:30 local time
- Place: Stephan Lake, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.6354° N, 149.0603° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.6354&lon=-149.0603&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1264A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1264A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18 (registry code 7101802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,500 total, 750 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC21LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA075) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210809013619A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF TO THE SOUTH FROM STEPHENS LAKE, AK61, DIRT STRIP. STRONG CROSSWIND. ON CLIMB OUT PILOT STATED THAT THE FLIGHT CONTROLS JAMMED IN A SLIGHT DOWN AND RIGHT POSITION. PILOT COULD NOT MOVE THE FLIGHT CONTROLS ( CENTER STICK) PASSENGER TRIED AND COULD NOT MOVE THE CONTROLS. PLANE DESCENDED AND CONTACTED TREES AROUND THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED. AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED TO WOLF LAKE FOR INSPECTION AND FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES. 8/18 FAA AND NTSB INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS CHECKED AND FOUND OK. INSPECTION IN AND AROUND FLIGHT CONTROLS IN THE CABIN WERE FOUND FREE AND CLEAR. REMOVED FLOOR UNDER FLIGHT CONTROLS AND INSPECTED AREA AND FOUND NOTHING THAT WOULD HAVE JAMMED THE CONTROLS AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF JAMMING. THE AIRCRAFT DID HAVE A NEWLY INSTALLED GUST LOCK. THIS GUST LOCK MOUNTED UNDER THE DASH AND HOOKED AROUND THE FLIGHT CONTROL STICK. IT WAS NOTED THAT THIS GUST LOCK HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. WHEN ATTACHED TO THE FLIGHT CONTROL IT ALLOWED APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 INCHES OF TRAVEL IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

COUNSELING CONDUCTED  AL03202200238

## 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 ANC21LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA075), Aug 10, 2021: Piper PA-18 (N1264A), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The malfunction of the control stick during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

## Other reports on N1264A (2)

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

- [Incident 19940312023189I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940312023189I), Mar 12, 1994: Piper PA18 (N1264A), Willow, AK, Minor damage. Narrative: the pilot landed on the frozen and snow covered yentna river to meet a friend who had previously flown to the incident site. During the landing…
- [Incident 19800427045149I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800427045149I), Apr 27, 1980: Piper PA18 (N1264A), Pendleton, OR, Minor damage. Pilot landed on soft terrain, went over on his back.

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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