Piper PA18 N7164B

Summary

On 28 May 2020 at about 18:00 local time, a Piper PA18 registered N7164B was involved in an accident near Sterling, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 May 2020 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Sterling, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Pvt (PVT)

Coordinates

60.5333, -150.7683

Aircraft

Piper PA18

Registration

N7164B

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

ANC20CA051

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with trees.

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 a private grass airstrip that was bordered by large trees in his tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the departure roll, and just as the airplane began to liftoff, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left and into trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had avoided taking off in a narrow area surrounded with obstructions in crosswind conditions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.