# NTSB ANC00TA075: Piper PA-18, N7059, Quinhagak, AK, June 23, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: June 22, 2000, 16:45 local (Jun 23, 2000, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Quinhagak, AK - Coordinates: 59.73917, -161.890289 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.7392&lon=-161.8903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 49537 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00TA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49537/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00TA075 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were the sudden windshift from a crosswind to a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - climb - not obtained - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis The private pilot reported he was attempting to depart to the northeast against the river current. The wind varied from 270 degrees to 320 degrees at 15 knots. He indicated that as the airplane reached flying speed, the wind shifted to a tailwind, and the airplane did not climb. The pilot stated he was unable to turn the airplane to follow the river, both floats struck the riverbank, and the airplane came to rest on the adjacent airport runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both float attach fittings, and the fuselage. ## Factual narrative On June 22, 2000, at 1645 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 float equipped airplane, N7059, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Quinhagak Seaplane Base, Quinhagak, Alaska. The solo private pilot received no injuries. The public use flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 by the State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Wildlife Protection. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) during a telephone interview on June 26, and wrote in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, that the wind varied from 270 degrees to 320 degrees at 15 knots. He stated he was taking off to the northeast on the Kanektok River, upriver against the current, with a left crosswind. He indicated that as the airplane reached flying speed, the wind shifted to a tailwind, and the airplane did not climb. The pilot stated he was unable to turn the airplane to follow the river, both floats struck the riverbank, and the airplane came to rest on the Quinhagak Airport runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both float attach fittings, and the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7059](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7059), registered now, S/N 18-8043, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8043 - Airframe hours: 9684 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft, Part 91 - Registered owner: State Of Alaska-Public Safety - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2000, 55 hours before - Departed: PAQH - Destination: KSM, SAINT MARY'S, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: PAQH, Quinhagak Seaplane, runway 4, 5,000 × 500 ft, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 600 total, 350 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 15 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000622042549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000622042549A), Jun 22, 2000: Piper PA18150, Quinhagak, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 22, 2000, at 1645 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 float equipped airplane, N7059, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the… ## Other investigations on N7059 (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 ANC12TA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC12TA035), Apr 28, 2012: Piper PA-18-150 (N7059), Paxon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A separation of the right main landing gear suspension strut assembly due to overstress, which resulted in the collapse of the main landing gear while landing. 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. --- 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.