Piper PA-18 N1169A

Summary

On 18 September 2009 at about 22:00 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N1169A, operated by Wendell Kirk Ellis, was involved in an accident near Nabesna, 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

18 September 2009 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Nabesna, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.2747, -142.8833

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N1169A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wendell Kirk Ellis

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Other Work Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Nabesna → Nabesna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC09LA103

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area with an unfavorable wind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was departing from a rough and uneven 800-foot-long remote airstrip in a tundra tire-equipped airplane. The pilot said that after assessing his passenger's weight, coupled with the southerly light and variable winds, he elected to depart to the south. He said that just after takeoff the wind suddenly switched to a tailwind and the airplane stopped climbing. The airplane then collided with a stand of trees and brush at the departure end of the site, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.