# NTSB WPR22LA288: Piper PA-18-150, N82735, McCarthy, AK, July 28, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 28, 2022, 12:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: McCarthy, AK · about 20 southeast of McCarthy, Alaska, near Big Bend Lakes. - Coordinates: 61.200608, -142.26552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.2006&lon=-142.2655&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105653 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA288 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105653/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105653 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA288 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper decision to takeoff from an unimproved airstrip with a high density altitude which degraded its climb performance and led to a collision with vegetation off the end of the airstrip. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while departing a remote rough and soft unimproved airstrip, the airplane’s tail rose off the ground just before the abort point and the airplane lifted off and entered into ground effect. Due to the high density altitude, the airplane was unable to gain sufficient airspeed to clear vegetation at the end of the airstrip. The pilot aborted the take off and the airplane came to rest in vegetation off the end of the airstrip. The right elevator was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82735](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N82735), registered now, S/N 18-7709183, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - 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 - Serial number: 18-7709183 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 8158.2 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Public use - Operator: State Of Alaska - Registered owner: State Of Alaska - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 2022, 14.3 hours before - Destination: MYK, McCarthy, AK - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Handheld GPS, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 28, 2022; seat: front; flight hours: 969 total, 729 in this make and model, 833 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Check pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review May 19, 2021; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,500 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 20220728021679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220728021679A), Jul 28, 2022: Piper PA-18-150, Mccarthy, AK, Substantial damage. On July 28, 2022, at approximately 1200 AKDT, a single engine Piper model PA-18, registration number [privacy data omitted] sustained substantial damage during… ## Other investigations on N82735 (3) 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. - [NTSB ANC15FA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15FA009), Jan 31, 2015: Piper PA 18 (N82735), Wasilla, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: Both pilots’ inadequate visual lookout and failure to see and avoid each other while in level cruise flight, which resulted in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the obscuration of… - [NTSB ANC02TA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02TA036), May 16, 2002: Piper PA-18 (N82735), Holy Cross, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. A factor in the accident was the presence of high vegetation (willows) along the right side of the landing area. - [NTSB ANC95GA083](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC95GA083), Apr 10, 1995: Piper PA-18 (N82735), Copper Center 2, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT NOT USING THE CHECKLIST AND LANDING WITH THE SKIS PUMPED DOWN. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 10, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105653. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14284510&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20pilot%20operator%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of check pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 583 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14354644&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record-Check%20pilot%27s%20statement-Rel.pdf - Record of phone conversation (pilot) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 649 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14354284&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20(Pilot)-Rel.pdf - Damage photo (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 211 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14284587&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA288%20Accident%20Photo-Rel.pdf 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.