- Date
- August 31, 2018, 18:00 local (Sep 1, 2018, 02:00 UTC)
- Place
- Palmer, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5373YPiper PA18
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 18, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180831016131A
- Case key
- 98229
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 directional control during takeoff.
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 takeoff from an unimproved, gravel airstrip, the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered right and then struck an airplane parked on the right side of the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during takeoff from an unimproved, gravel airstrip, the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered right and struck an airplane parked on the right side of the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the elevator. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5373Y
- Reported as
- Piper PA18 (150)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-8140
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Palmer, AK
- Destination
- IYS · Wasilla, AK
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Heads up display
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
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 14, 2017
- Seat
- Front
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 679 total · 679 in this make and model · 679 as pilot in command · 83 in the last 90 days · 38 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.82 inHg
- Observed at
- PAJV, 30 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 28, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 833 KB 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 N5373Y · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.