- Date
- August 28, 2021, 15:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place
- Kenai, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N82064Piper PA-18-150
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- 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, Manager, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office
- Case key
- 103770
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 loss of control and impact 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
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, after takeoff from the unimproved airstrip, he encountered a gust of wind that lifted the right wing. Subsequently, the left main tire contacted terrain and the airplane made an abrupt 180º left turn. He attempted to land, but the airplane stalled and impacted terrain sustaining substantial damage to the right wing, right aileron and right lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N82064
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7809123
- Built
- 1978
- Airframe hours
- 1,683.95
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 18, 2021
- Airport
- PVT · Pvt
- Equipment
- 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
- 85
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 27, 2021
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,000 total · 737 in this make and model · 2.4 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.84 inHg
- Observed at
- PAEN, 23 nm away
- METAR
- PAEN 282353Z 28007KT 10SM CLR 13/04 A2984 RMK AO2 SLP108 T01330039 10139 20100 55003
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.8 MB in all.
Other investigations on N82064 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.