- Date
- May 7, 2021, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cold Bay, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N717DRPiper PA-18-150
- 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
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20210507008979A
- Case key
- 103057
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 a gusty crosswind condition.
Findings · 4
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 takeoff with a quartering crosswind, the tailwheel-equipped airplane encountered a gust of wind, veered right, and exited the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N717DR
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-4387
- Built
- 1955
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Richard A. Guthrie
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 2021
- Airport
- CDB · Cold Bay, runway 15, 10,179 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS, Stall warning system
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 4, 2020
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 4,791 total · 2,810 in this make and model · 4,750 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,400 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.29 inHg
- Observed at
- PACD, 1 nm away
- METAR
- PACD 072053Z 09014G21KT 10SM -RA OVC034 06/04 A2929 RMK AO2 PK WND 08029/1957 SLP919 P0003 60011 T00610039 55002
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 12, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.4 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.