# NTSB ANC01LA004: Piper PA-18, N4882P, Ekwok, AK, October 7, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 7, 2000, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Ekwok, AK
- Coordinates: 59.350234, -157.479537 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.3502&lon=-157.4795&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50487
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50487/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA004

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind condition.  A factor in the accident was a crosswind.

## 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 - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - terrain condition - tundra

## Analysis

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.

## Factual narrative

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.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4882P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-18
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7773
- Airframe hours: 5300
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Coyote Air LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 20, 2000, 40 hours before
- Destination: KEK, EKWOK, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 4,973 total, 1,320 in this make and model, 4,973 as pilot in command, 347 in the last 90 days, 110 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 19 °F

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.

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