ANC01LA004

The airline transport certificated pilot was departing a remote, tundra covered bench on an air taxi flight. During the takeoff roll toward the north, just as the airplane became airborne, the pilot said a strong wind from left front lifted the left wing. The right main landing gear tire and the right wing struck the ground, and the airplane pivoted to the right. The airplane then went over the edge of the bench and into a creek bed. The airplane received damage to the right wing, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot said the wind conditions were about 300 degrees at 15 knots, gusts to 25 knots.

On October 7, 2000, about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4882P, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote area, about 23 miles northeast of Ekwok, Alaska, at latitude 59 degrees, 34.34 minutes north, and longitude 156 degrees, 47.26 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Coyote Air LLC., Coldfoot, Alaska. The airline transport certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.

During a telephone conversation with a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), air safety investigator, on October 8, 2000, the pilot reported he landed on a tundra bench and picked up his passenger. During the takeoff roll toward the north, just as the airplane became airborne, the pilot said a strong wind from left front lifted the left wing. The right main landing gear tire and the right wing struck the ground, and the airplane pivoted to the right. The airplane then went over the edge of the bench and into a creek bed. The airplane received damage to the right wing, fuselage, and empennage.

The pilot said the wind conditions were about 300 degrees at 15 knots, gusts to 25 knots.