Piper PA-18 N54938
18 August 1993 · Little Delta Rv, Alaska, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 18 August 1993 at about 19:40 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N54938, operated by Lentsch, William J., was involved in an accident near Little Delta Rv, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:40
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Little Delta Rv, Alaska, United States
- Nearest airport
- None (NONE)
- Coordinates
- 63.7000, -144.8902
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18
- Registration
- N54938
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Lentsch, William J.
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ANC93LA153
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB. FACTOR WAS THE GUSTY WINDS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST AFTER TAKEOFF, HE ENCOUNTERED A STRONG GUST OF WIND THAT CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. HE SAID THE LEFT WING SUDDENLY WENT DOWN TO ALMOST 90 DEGREES AND HIT THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE THEN CARTWHEELED AND CAME TO A STOP. THE PILOT, PASSENGER, AND THREE GROUND WITNESSES SAID THE WINDS HAD BEEN VARIABLE AND GUSTY. THE PILOT WAITED ON THE RUNWAY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES FOR MORE FAVORABLE WINDS BEFORE STARTING THE TAKEOFF.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-18 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Oct 1993 | Piper PA-18 | Cold Bay, Alaska, United States | Office of Aircraft Services | Unknown | - |
| 8 Mar 1993 | Piper PA-18 | Marshall, Arkansas, United States | Mistak, John | No injuries | - |
| 29 Apr 1993 | Piper PA-18 | Delta Junction, Alaska, United States | Wolfe, Fredrick M. | Fatal | 1 |
| 28 Feb 1993 | Piper PA-18-150 | Winnett, Montana, United States | Flint, Gary LEE | No injuries | - |
| 27 May 1993 | Piper PA-18-150 | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | Cline, Epton D. | No injuries | - |
| 21 May 1993 | Piper PA-18-150 | Vacaville, California, United States | JOY I. Smith | No injuries | - |
All 2,950 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul 1993 | Cessna A185F | Denali Nat'l Pk, Alaska, United States | James Okonek | Serious injuries | - |
| 4 Aug 1993 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Atigun Pass, Alaska, United States | Yutana Airlines | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Aug 1993 | De Havilland DHC-3 | Nikabuna Lake, Alaska, United States | Ketchum Air Service Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 31 Aug 1993 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Iliamna, Alaska, United States | Rainbow King, Inc | Fatal | 3 |
| 2 Sep 1993 | Piper PA-18A-150 | Sanona Creek, Alaska, United States | Garfield, Wade E. | Fatal | 2 |
| 8 Sep 1993 | Interstate S-1B2 ARCTIC TERN | Talkeetna River, Alaska, United States | Franklin, Gary L. | Serious injuries | - |