Piper PA-18-150 N8918Y

Summary

On 19 October 1999 at about 20:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N8918Y was involved in an accident near Seward, 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 October 1999 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Seward, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

60.0501, -149.3306

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N8918Y

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Montague Island → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC00LA011

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident were a crosswind, and a downdraft.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated private pilot was landing to the south on a 600 feet long gravel airstrip. The pilot stated that he thought the winds were fairly calm as he approached to land, but just before touchdown, the wind increased to an estimated 45 miles per hour from out of the south-southeast. He said that a strong downdraft pushed the airplane to the ground, and the main landing gear struck the airstrip, and the airplane nosed down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage longerons, both landing gear attach points, and both wing spars. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.