- Date
- May 30, 1999, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC)
- Place
- Port Alsworth, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N8570CPiper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 22, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19990530006129A
- Case key
- 46530
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 inadequate compensation for a crosswind. A factor associated with the accident is a crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The private pilot was attempting a southerly departure from a 3,000 feet long gravel airstrip, in a tundra tire equipped, tailwheel airplane. He stated that during the takeoff roll, a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer to the left. He applied full right aileron and right rudder, but the airplane continued to veer left. The left wing struck a stand of trees, and pivoted about 90 degrees to the left. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, and fuselage. The closest official weather observation station is Port Alsworth. On May 30, at 1548, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, 209 (magnetic) degrees at 11 knots; visibility, 30 statute miles; clouds, 4,000 feet broken, 8,000 feet broken; temperature, 50 degrees F; dew point, 41 degrees F; altimeter, 29.75 inHg.
Factual narrative
On May 30, 1999, about 1545 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N8570C, received substantial damage during takeoff from the Port Alsworth Airstrip, Port Alsworth, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Merrill Field, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1340.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on June 1, the pilot reported that he was attempting a southerly departure from a 3,000 feet long gravel strip. He stated that during the takeoff roll, a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer to the left. He applied full right aileron and right rudder, but the airplane continued to veer left. The left wing struck a stand of trees, and pivoted about 90 degrees to the left. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, and fuselage.
The closest official weather observation station is Port Alsworth. On May 30, at 1548, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) was reporting in part: Wind, 209 degrees (magnetic) at 11 knots; visibility, 30 statute miles; clouds, 4,000 feet broken, 8,000 feet broken; temperature, 50 degrees F; dew point, 41 degrees F; altimeter, 29.75 inHg.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8570C
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-2722
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 lbs thrust, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- James T. Ables
- Registered owner
- Neal B. Burleson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- MRI · Anchorage, AK
- Destination
- IGG · Igiugig, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- Port Alsworth, runway 18, 3,000 × ft, gravel
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
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 618 total · 5 in this make and model · 618 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 14 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 209° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 50 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PAL
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8570C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.