# NTSB ANC81DAG72: Piper PA-18, N8078D, Cantwell, AK, August 30, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 30, 1981
- Place: Cantwell, AK · CANTWELL, AK
- Location: 63.3917° N, 148.9508° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cantwell, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.3917&lon=-148.9508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 18, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124127
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC81DAG72
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAG72

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2843  81/8/30  NR.CANTWELL,AK        PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 44, 750
        TIME - 1600                    N8078D              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 43 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - UNNAMED LAKE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         CANTWELL,AK                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,AND ALTITUDE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
           TERRAIN - OTHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      5500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      51
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          210                                                       9
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- AFTER TKOF FM 1500FT LAKE,ENCTRD DWNDFT,UN TO CLB OVR RISING TRRN,ELEV APRX 2000FT.FLOAT EQUIPPED.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8078D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8078D), registered now, S/N 18-6061, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18) (registry code 7101802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-B2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2a) (registry code 42137, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Unnamed Lake

## 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 19810830059119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810830059119A), Aug 30, 1981: Piper PA18, Cantwell, AK, Substantial damage. Downdraft in lee of a hill at departure end of lake, caused sink rate on takeoff climb. Struck ground on shoreline.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.