Piper PA-18-150 N721JW

Summary

On 17 July 2005 at about 16:00 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N721JW, operated by Larry K. Carpenter, was involved in an accident near Yellow Pine, Idaho, 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

17 July 2005 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Yellow Pine, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Vines Airstrip

Coordinates

45.1311, -114.9975

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N721JW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Larry K. Carpenter

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Yellow Pine → McCall

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA05LA147

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his failure to maintain directional control after the aircraft's right main gear contacted a small dirt mound during the takeoff roll at the remote grass airstrip. Factors include the pilot's failure to walk the length of the runway during his pre-flight preparation to insure that it was clear of objects, a hidden object on the takeoff surface (the mound), high vegetation on the runway surface, and trees near the side borders of the airstrip.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During the takeoff roll at the remote grass airstrip, the aircraft's right main landing gear hit a mound of dirt created by a burrowing animal, and the aircraft suddenly veered to the right. The pilot applied left rudder to correct the situation, but he was unable to get the aircraft back on takeoff heading prior to it departing the right side of the airstrip surface. Soon after departing the takeoff surface, the aircraft's landing gear rolled over some nearby large rocks, and the right wing impacted a tree that was located near the side of the airstrip. The pilot did not see the dirt mound during the takeoff roll because it was hidden by tall grass/weeds, and he had not walked the length of the 1,100 foot remote runway looking for obstructions prior to takeoff. According to a note in the Idaho Airports Guide, the surface of this runway is rough and subject to ongoing deterioration, and its usage is limited to "highly experienced" mountain pilots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.