- Date
- August 24, 2011, 19:10 local (Aug 25, 2011, 03:10 UTC)
- Place
- Beluga Lake, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8491YPiper PA-18-150
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 17, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA - Anchorage FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110824021599A
- Case key
- 81599
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 decision to takeoff with an unfavorable wind which resulted in a loss of directional control, and collision with terrain.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, during takeoff, a gust of wind lifted the airplane's left wing and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the accident could have been avoided had he waited for more favorable wind conditions.
Factual narrative
The pilot lost control of the airplane shortly after liftoff, when a gust of wind lifted the left wing and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot said there were no mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the accident could have been avoided had he waited for more favorable wind conditions.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8491Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8880
- Airframe hours
- 4,615
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- William M. Toney, II
- Registered owner
- Toney William M
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 16, 2011 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- Beluga Lake, AK
- Destination
- AA06 · Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Military, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 9, 2011
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 11,300 total · 185 in this make and model · 4,800 as pilot in command · 193 in the last 90 days · 66 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 50 °F
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 564 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.