- Date
- April 19, 2015, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Nondalton, AK
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N2894ZPiper PA 18A 150
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 11, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20150419006979A
- Case key
- 91058
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 failure to maintain control of the airplane while taking off with a gusting crosswind.
Findings · 2
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
The pilot was on a personal cross-country flight in a tailwheel-equipped, single engine airplane. The pilot stated that although there was a strong crosswind on landing, he did not expect it to affect the airplane on takeoff. During the takeoff ground roll, when the pilot could no longer maintain directional control, he took off, climbing about 10 feet before losing altitude and impacting a ditch that is parallel to the runway. During the impact, the airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot and sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The pilot stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot was on a personal cross-country flight in a tailwheel-equipped, single engine airplane. The pilot stated that although there was a strong crosswind on landing, he did not expect it to affect the airplane on takeoff. During the takeoff ground roll, when the pilot could no longer maintain directional control, he took off, climbing about 10 feet before losing altitude and impacting a ditch that is parallel to the runway. During the impact, the airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot and sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The pilot stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2894Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA 18A 150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7078
- Built
- 1959
- Engine
- Lycoming 0-320 SERIES, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- PALH · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- 5NN · Nondalton, AK
- Airport
- 5NN · Nondalton, runway 20, 2,800 × 75 ft, gravel
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
- 49
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,591 total · 97 in this make and model · 2,528 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 12 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 41 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.29 inHg
- Observed at
- PAIL, 14 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 27, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB 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.
Other investigations on N2894Z · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.