Piper PA 18-150 N40579

Summary

On 30 September 2013 at about 16:00 local time, a Piper PA 18-150 registered N40579 was involved in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska, United States. One person was 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

30 September 2013 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Wasilla, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.5919, -149.3586

Aircraft

Piper PA 18-150

Registration

N40579

Category

Airplane

Year built

1976

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wasilla → Naknek

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC13CA107

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper preflight inspection, and failure to remove heavy frost from the airplane prior to attempting a takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was attempting to takeoff from a public street, but the airplane would not climb, and struck a light pole, sustaining substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that he failed to remove heavy frost from the airplane prior to the takeoff attempt. He also stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.