# Accident 20230701008339A: Piper PA-18, Shirleyville, AK, July 1, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 1, 2023, 12:40 local time
- Place: Shirleyville, AK
- Airport: Shirleyville
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.9716° N, 151.8040° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.9716&lon=-151.8040&mi=10
- Aircraft: N15XX, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15XX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18 (registry code 7101802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 110 total, 11 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA049) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230701008339A

## Narrative

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

ASI APF CALLED AND INTERVIEWED ACCIDENT PILOT ON 7/13/23. PILOT WAS VERY COOPERATIVE, AND STATED THAT DAY HE LANDED ON A VERY NARROW TRACK NEAR THE MCARTHUR RIVER, ON WHICH BOTH SIDES BRUSH HAD GROWN UP MAKING IT VERY TIGHT FOR WING CLEARANCE. PILOT STATED NO ISSUE WITH LANDING, AND WIND WAS CALM. WHEN PILOT DECIDED TO DEPART FOR TAKEOFF, THE WIND HAD PICKED UP AND WAS A DIRECT CROSSWIND EITHER DIRECTION. PILOT DID NOT BELIEVE WIND WAS A FACTOR; BUT STATED HE WAS A BIT CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A TREE/BRUSH CLUMP THAT HE FELT WOULD IMPEDE HIS TAKEOFF. WHEN HE INITIATED HIS TAKEOFF, THIS TREE IMPACTED HIS RIGHT WING, INSTANTLY PULLING HIM TO THE RIGHT AND INTO THE THICK BRUSH WHERE HIS PROPELLER IMPACTED TERRAIN AND BOTH WINGS IMPACTED THICK BRUSH AND SMALL TREES. PILOT STATED HE HAD ABOUT 3000 HOURS OF TAILWHEEL FLYING, AND WISHED VERY MUCH THAT HE HAD HAD AN AXE OR FOLDING SAW WITH HIM TO IMPROVE THE STRIP BEFORE TAKEOFF. HE STATED HE WILL BE CARRYING A SAW OR AXE IN THE FUTURE. PILOT WAS COUNSELED ON ADM, RBDM AND THE NEED FOR REQUIRED EQUIPMENT LIKE AN AXE OR SAW TO USE WHEN OPERATING FROM REMOTE UNIMPROVED STRIPS.

PILOT ALSO STATED HE DID NOT KNOW IF HIS ASSISTANT HAD NOTIFIED THE NTSB, STATING HE HAD NOT BEEN IN THIS POSITION BEFORE. HE SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND MAKE SURE HE IS COMPLYING WITH THE REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS OF 14 CFR 830.

PILOT COMPLIED WITH NTSB REPORTING REQUIREMENT 7/18/23.

## 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 ANC23LA049](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA049), Jul 1, 2023: Piper PA-18 (N15XX), Beluga, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff site, resulting in a collision with brush-covered terrain.

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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