Piper PA-18-150 N999JV

Summary

On 10 May 2012 at about 02:15 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N999JV, operated by James W. Watson, was involved in an accident near Gakona, 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

10 May 2012 at 02:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Gakona, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.1919, -144.8664

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N999JV

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

James W. Watson

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Gakona → Fairbanks

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC12CA037

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s decision to take off in variable wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and the airplane striking an object after takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed from a remote, 800-foot-long, gravel-covered airstrip in variable wind conditions. He said that during the takeoff roll, just before liftoff, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right. As the airplane became airborne, the pilot felt a "bump," but he noted no control or vibration problems. After an uneventful landing at his destination airport, an examination revealed substantial damage to the lower portion of the airplane's rudder. Further examination revealed that the tailwheel likely hit something during takeoff. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.