Piper PA 18-150 N5616Y

Summary

On 27 August 2014 at about 05:15 local time, a Piper PA 18-150 registered N5616Y was involved in an accident near Beluga, Alaska, United States. 2 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

27 August 2014 at 05:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Beluga, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Gravel Strip (None)

Coordinates

55.9203, -159.4905

Aircraft

Piper PA 18-150

Registration

N5616Y

Category

Airplane

Year built

1965

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beluga → Palmer

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC14CA070

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area, resulting in an inflight collision with vegetation/brush during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was departing, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, from a 600 foot long, by 50 wide, off-airport site that was surrounded by trees and overgrown brush. The pilot reported that before starting his takeoff roll he completed the predeparture checklist, and then he configured the wing flaps by placing the flap handle into the first notch. During the takeoff roll, and as the airplane achieved a takeoff speed, the pilot applied an additional notch of flaps. The pilot reported that as the airplane became airborne, the left wing contacted an area of overgrown brush, which briefly pivoted the airplane to the left. The pilot then applied full right rudder to correct for the pivoting and realign the airplane over the site, resulting in a reduction of airspeed. The airplane subsequently descended into an area of brush-covered terrain at the departure end of the site, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.  The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.