Piper PA 18 N8281C

Summary

On 8 March 2014 at about 21:00 local time, a Piper PA 18 registered N8281C, operated by Kenneth C Thomas, was involved in an accident near Tanana, 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

8 March 2014 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Tanana, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

65.5333, -151.9167

Aircraft

Piper PA 18

Registration

N8281C

Category

Airplane

Year built

1954

Engines

1

Operator

Kenneth C Thomas

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Tanana → Fairbanks

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC14CA018

Nobody was injured.

The passenger inadvertently interfered with the rudder control pedal, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the takeoff run, just before liftoff from a frozen, snow-covered lake, the ski-equipped airplane bounced over a snow drift. The pilot applied corrective action; however, rudder control inputs were momentarily unresponsive and the airplane's left wing tip contacted the snow covered lake. The pilot regained rudder authority and continued the takeoff. After the airplane became airborne the pilot learned that his rear seat passenger's foot (boot) inadvertently interfered with the rudder control pedal. The pilot continued the flight to his planned destination and landed without further incident. After landing, the pilot noted damage to the left wing, which was later classified as substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.