- Date
- May 16, 2020, 09:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place
- McGrath, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5478HPiper PA 18
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 20200516006839A
- Case key
- 101284
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 directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and impacted with the ground.
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 reported that during the departure roll, and as the airplane began to lift off, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. The left wing contacted a tree and the airplane veered to the left and impacted a dirt embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5478H
- Reported as
- Piper PA 18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-70
- Built
- 1950
- Airframe hours
- 526
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235 SERIES, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 2, 2020
- Departed
- McGrath, AK
- Destination
- Chugiak, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- runway PVT, 1,500 × 75 ft, gravel
- Equipment
- None
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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- BasicMed, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 698.4 total · 28 in this make and model · 589 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- PAFS
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 12.2 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.