- Date
- September 8, 2016, 17:00 local (Sep 9, 2016, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Gulkana, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N13833Piper PA18
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 6, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20160908021159A
- Case key
- 94005
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 clearance from a tree while maneuvering at low altitude.
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 a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that the left wing of the airplane impacted a tree while maneuvering at low altitude. He further reported that he continued to his intended destination and landed without further incident. After he landed, a subsequent exam of the left wing revealed substantial damage to the left aileron. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a tailwheel equipped airplane reported that the left wing of the airplane impacted a tree while maneuvering at low altitude. He further reported that he continued to his intended destination and landed without further incident. After he landed, a subsequent exam of the left wing revealed substantial damage to the left aileron. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N13833
- Reported as
- Piper PA18 (150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8959
- Built
- 1972
- Airframe hours
- 5,936.8
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 16, 2016
- Departed
- PAQ · Palmer, AK
- Destination
- 6K8 · Tok, AK
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- 52
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2015
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 8,555 total · 3,035 in this make and model · 8,387 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.86 inHg
- Observed at
- PAGK, 3 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 19, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 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.
Other investigations on N13833 · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.