# Accident 20230815012189A: Piper PA-18-150, Tyonek, AK, August 15, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 15, 2023, 14:00 local time
- Place: Tyonek, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.4055° N, 151.7106° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4055&lon=-151.7106&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3995Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3995Z) (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
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 596 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230815012189A

## Narrative

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

PIC AND PASSENGER WERE TAKING OFF FROM A 600-700 FOOT MAKESHIFT AIRSTRIP IN THE ALASKA RANGE. VISABILITY WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES WITH THE CEILING BE ABOUT 5000 FEET, WIND WAS LIGHT, AT 3-5 MPH FROM THE NORTH. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 12-15 FEET AGL THERE WAS A WINDGUST THAT PUSHED THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT. ADDITIONAL GUSTS WERE PUSHING THE AIRCRAFT TOWARDS THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB AND WAS PUSHED DOWN, IMPACTING THE GROUND. BOTH OCCUPENTS WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCARFT WITH NO INJURIES. THE PIC AND PASSENGER IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE WIND HAD SHIFTED AND WAS NOW COMING FROM THE SOUTH AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH WITH EVEN HIGHER GUSTS. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO INCLUDE: THE LEFT WING SPARS WERE BENT, LEFT WING AFT ATTACH FITTING BROKEN, FUSELAGE LONGERONS/STRINGERS WERE BENT, LEFT ELEVATOR DAMAGED, ENGINE PROP STRIKE AND THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR BENT/SEPERATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ANC23LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23LA066), Aug 15, 2023: Piper PA-18-150 (N3995Z), Tyonek, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s encounter with windshear during the initial climb, which resulted in a loss of control.

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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