Piper PA18S N4387A

Summary

On 23 July 2017 at about 19:10 local time, a Piper PA18S registered N4387A was involved in an accident near Sterling, 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

23 July 2017 at 19:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Sterling, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Scooter's Landing Strip (AK84)

Coordinates

60.5292, -150.8292

Aircraft

Piper PA18S

Registration

N4387A

Category

Airplane

Year built

1956

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sterling → Sterling

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA441

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while landing in crosswind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while landing in crosswind conditions and as the tailwheel set down, the airplane veered left. Subsequently, the airplane exited the left side of the runway, struck a well head, and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system about 7 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 280° at 11 knots. The pilot landed on runway 26.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.