# Accident 20220728021679A: Piper PA-18-150, Mccarthy, AK, July 28, 2022 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 28, 2022, 12:00 local time - Place: Mccarthy, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.2006° N, 142.2655° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2006&lon=-142.2655&mi=10 - Aircraft: N82735, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82735) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (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-18-150 - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 969 total, 725 in this make and model, 84 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA288) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220728021679A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON JULY 28, 2022, AT APPROXIMATELY 1200 AKDT, A SINGLE ENGINE PIPER MODEL PA-18, REGISTRATION NUMBER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING AN ABORTED TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE AIRSTRIP NEAR MCCARTHY ALASKA. THE TWO COMMERCIAL RATED PILOTS OCCUPYING THE AIRCRAFT WERE NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS A 14 CODE OF FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS PART 91 FLIGHT CONDUCTED AS A PUBLIC AIRCRAFT OPERATION BY THE STATE OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AIRCRAFT SECTION. THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS RECEIVING TRAINING IN OFF-AIRPORT OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT HAD A VERY SHORT LANDING STRIP AT HIGH ALTITUDE, SO HE AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM TRAINING AT OTHER LOCATIONS UNTIL SUFFICIENT FUEL BURN-OFF REDUCED THE WEIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE LANDING AT THE ACCIDENT LOCATION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE AND THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT WALKED THE LENGTH OF THE AIRSTRIP PRIOR TO DEPARTURE AND NOTED THAT BOTH ENDS OF THE FIELD WERE WET AND WOULD REDUCE THE AVAILABLE TAKEOFF DISTANCE FROM APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET TO APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET. THE PILOT STATED THAT ALL PRE-TAKEOFF CHECKS WERE PERFORMED AND THE ENGINE WAS LEANED FOR THE 3,500 FOOT ALTITUDE OF THE ACCIDENT LOCATION. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER LIFTOFF, IT BECAME APPARENT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT CLEAR THE SURROUNDING TERRAIN DUE TO HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, SO HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF AND LANDED JUST BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. AFTER THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST, BOTH PILOTS ASSESSED THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND THE ELEVATOR HORN ON THE RIGHT ELEVATOR HAD SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM STRIKING A TREE DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT A CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTION MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. ## 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 WPR22LA288](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA288), Jul 28, 2022: Piper PA-18-150 (N82735), McCarthy, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to takeoff from an unimproved airstrip with a high density altitude which degraded its climb performance and led to a collision with vegetation off the end of the… ## Other reports on N82735 (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20150131000792A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150131000792A), Jan 31, 2015: Piper PA-18-150 (N82735), Wasilla, AK, Destroyed. At about 1300 AKST N82735 departed Wasilla airport (paws) runway 22 after announcing "taxi to runway 22" and "departing runway 22 at Wasilla airport" on 122.8… - [Accident 20020516012879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020516012879A), May 16, 2002: Piper PA18150 (N82735), Holycross, AK, No damage. (-23) Public use aircraft landed on sandbar during criminal investigation mission. Struck willow tree with right wing tip. Wing tip bow and tail wheel attach… - [Accident 19950409049509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950409049509A), Apr 9, 1995: Piper PA18150 (N82735), Glennallen, AK, Substantial damage. (-16) A Piper PA-18 on wheel skis, operated by the Alaska state troopers, landed on a dry gravel air strip with skis in the down position, and the aircraft… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.