Piper PA-18-150 N83278

Summary

On 14 August 2009 at about 18:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N83278, operated by MKT LLC, was involved in an accident near Kaktovik, Alaska, United States. 3 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 August 2009 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Kaktovik, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

69.5000, -144.0000

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N83278

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

MKT LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kaktovik → Barter Island

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC09CA082

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airline transport pilot was on a Title 14, CFR Part 91, personal cross-country flight when the accident occurred. The pilot said during takeoff from an off-airport site, the airplane hit a bump and became airborne prematurely. When the airplane settled to the ground, she said the right main landing gear wheel landed in a depression, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The pilot said the right wing struck the ground, and the airplane veered to the right. The left main landing gear which collapsed, side-loading allowing the left wing to hit the ground. She said there were no known mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident. She said the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.