Piper PA-18 N3996Z

Summary

On 19 March 2005 at about 16:00 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N3996Z was involved in an accident near False Pass, 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.

Date

19 March 2005 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

False Pass, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

54.8383, -163.8667

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N3996Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

False Pass → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC05CA050

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in a collision with the ground and subsequent nose over. Factors contributing to the accident were a downdraft, and the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private certificated pilot was departing from an open area of tundra, which was about 800 feet long by 600 feet wide. He said the wind was from the southeast about 10 to 15 knots, and he began a takeoff toward the southeast. The pilot said that just after liftoff, a few feet in the air, the airplane encountered a downdraft. The left wing struck the ground, and the airplane collided with the ground and nosed over. The airplane received damage to both wings, the fuselage, empennage, and propeller.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.