# NTSB ANC79DAA11: Piper PA-18, N4479Z, Kotzebue, AK, April 27, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 27, 1979
- Place: Kotzebue, AK · KOTZEBUE, AK
- Location: 66.8868° N, 162.4917° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kotzebue, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.8868&lon=-162.4917&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 135499
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC79DAA11
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DAA11

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2344  79/4/27    KOTZEBUE,AK         PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 20, 560
        TIME - 0700                    N4479Z              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 400 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - RALPH WIEN
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          KOTZEBUE,AK                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           GROUND-WATER LOOP-SWERVE                                 TAKEOFF: ABORTED
           COLLIDED WITH: PARKED AIRCRAFT                           TAKEOFF: ABORTED
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED WRONG RUNWAY RELATIVE TO EXISTING WIND
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DOWNWIND
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY RADIO
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  1200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     TAIL WIND 158-202 DEGREES
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          170                                                       26
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- HIT C-150,N19479,SUBST DMG.WIND GUSTING 34K.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4479Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4479Z), registered now, S/N 18-8834, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Ralph Wien

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19790427007169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790427007169A), Apr 27, 1979: Piper PA18, Kotzebue, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot aborted downwind takeoff. Veered into parked aircraft.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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