- Date
- August 6, 2007, 16:45 local (Aug 7, 2007, 00:45 UTC)
- Place
- King Salmon, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N39302Piper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- Anchorage FSDO
- Case key
- 66389
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of control, and an on-ground encounter with terrain. A factor in the accident was a crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The commercial certificated pilot was departing from an off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane in a left crosswind during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during the northwesterly takeoff roll, the airplane's left wing lifted and the right wing struck the ground, which pivoted the airplane to the right. The airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The commercial certificated pilot was departing from an off-airport site in a tailwheel-equipped airplane in a left crosswind during a Title 14, CFR Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during the northwesterly takeoff roll, the airplane's left wing lifted and the right wing struck the ground, which pivoted the airplane to the right. The airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The pilot did not complete the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) as requested.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N39302
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7777
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William H. Woodin
- Registered owner
- William H. Woodin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- King Salmon, AK
- Destination
- AKN · King Salmon, AK
- Airport
- runway 270
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 6,000 total · 100 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,100 ft broken
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.25 inHg
- Observed at
- EII, 20 nm away