Piper PA 18-135 N27293

Summary

On 19 June 2014 at about 02:00 local time, a Piper PA 18-135 registered N27293 was involved in an accident near Beluga, 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

19 June 2014 at 02:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Beluga, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

55.9206, -159.4890

Aircraft

Piper PA 18-135

Registration

N27293

Category

Airplane

Year built

1954

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beluga → Chugaik

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC14CA043

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's loss of control when encountering a downdraft during the initial climb after takeoff, resulting in a collision with brush and terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was departing from a small remote lake in a float-equipped airplane. He said that during the initial climb he encountered a strong downdraft, and he selected an area of marshy, brush-covered terrain as a forced landing site. During touchdown, the left wing collided with a stand of tall brush, which pivoted the airplane 90-degrees to the left, and the airplane's left float subsequently struck the shoreline. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.