- Date
- May 19, 2023, 17:02 local (May 20, 2023, 01:02 UTC)
- Place
- Hunter Creek, AK · Sand / gravel bar
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N4231ZPiper 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
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- FAA report
- 20230519007809A
- Case key
- 192219
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 loss of directional control during takeoff roll in gusting wind conditions.
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 the takeoff roll from a remote gravel bar in a tundra tire-equipped airplane, a gusting crosswind banked the airplane to the right, and it subsequently came to rest inverted and sustained substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of takeoff, the pilot reported the winds to be gusting about 45 to 50 knots, which he said exceeded rudder and aileron authority.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4231Z
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8457
- Built
- 1966
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320 SERIES, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Departed
- 0AK1 · Wasilla, AK
- Destination
- PVT · Palmer, AK
- Airport
- PAQ · Palmer Municipal
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 18, 2023
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 9,420 total · 714 in this make and model · 122 in the last 90 days · 24 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- PAAQ, 14 nm away
- METAR
- PAAQ 200153Z 14020G30KT 10SM CLR 17/04 A2992 RMK AO2 PK WND 14030/0147 SLP134 T01670044
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2023, 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.