20230912022739A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18-150 · Saint Marys, AK · September 12, 2023

Date: September 12, 2023 · 20:35 local
Place: Saint Marys, AK
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
Operator: NZYC
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N109T
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC23FA074
Reported as: Piper PA-18-150
Reported engine: Lycoming O-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,707 total

N109TRegistered now · Piper PA-18-150S/N 18-2223 · Built 1952 Airframe modelPiper PA-18-150 Engine modelLycoming 0-290 series4 cycle

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.

The airplane was loaded and attempted to depart with the weight above the maximum certificated gross weight. During the initial climb, the airplane impacted terrain and the pilot in command (PIC) was the sole occupant on board and was fatally injured. The accident occurred 65NM notheast of st. Marys, Alaska.

As the FAA filed it

THE AIRPLANE WAS LOADED AND ATTEMPTED TO DEPART WITH THE WEIGHT ABOVE THE MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT ON BOARD AND WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 65NM NOTHEAST OF ST. MARYS, ALASKA.

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 ANC23FA074Accident · 1 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportSt. Mary's, AKThe pilot’s decision to operate the airplane above its maximum certificated gross weight, and his installation of an unapproved external load that degraded takeoff performance and flight characteristics resulting in a loss of airplane control during takeoff…Sep 13, 2023 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N109T · 1

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

Accident 20170926021179ALanding: Rollout · Holy Cross, AKPilot was landing on hilltop ridge line and caught wheel in hole flipping the aircraft. Damage reported was rudder and propeller. This is an off field area. Damage was further determined to include wings, vertical and horizontal stabilators, right gear,…Sep 26, 2017 · Substantial damage