- Date
- August 4, 2020, 15:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place
- Wasilla, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N82566Piper PA18
- 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
- 20200804014579A
- Case key
- 101742
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 crosswind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with trees.
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 he was departing an asphalt surfaced runway in his tundra tire and tailwheel-equipped airplane in crosswind conditions. During the departure roll, and just as the airplane began to lift off the airplane yawed to the left. In an effort to correct for they yaw, he applied right rudder. The right main tire contacted the runway's surface and the airplane veered to the right. He applied left rudder and brake to correct for the veer to no avail. The airplane continued a slow right turn exited the runway and impacted trees sustaining substantial damage to the left wing struts. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had utilized a gravel surfaced runway.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was departing an asphalt surfaced runway in his tundra tire and tailwheel-equipped airplane in crosswind conditions. During the departure roll, and just as the airplane began to lift off the airplane yawed to the left. In an effort to correct for they yaw, he applied right rudder. The right main tire contacted the runway's surface and the airplane veered to the right. He applied left rudder and brake to correct for the veer to no avail. The airplane continued a slow right turn exited the runway and impacted trees sustaining substantial damage to the left wing struts. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had utilized a gravel surfaced runway.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N82566
- Reported as
- Piper PA18 (150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7909008
- Built
- 1978
- Airframe hours
- 3,310
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 2, 2020
- Departed
- IYS · Wasilla, AK
- Destination
- Soldotna, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- IYS · Wasilla, runway 04, 3,700 × 75 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B
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
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 21, 2020
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 3,608 total · 1,749 in this make and model · 21 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.70 inHg
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 N82566 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.