Piper PA18 N655HE
2 September 2019 · Beluga, Alaska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 2 September 2019 at about 00:20 local time, a Piper PA18 registered N655HE was involved in an accident near Beluga, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 00:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Beluga, Alaska, United States
- Coordinates
- 61.2294, -151.7692
- Aircraft
- Piper PA18
- Registration
- N655HE
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1952
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Palmer → Tyonek
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- GAA19CA521
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate climb rate during takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel- and tundra tire-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff from an off-airport field, the airplane climbed to about 15 to 20 ft above ground level but then began to descend. He reported that a wind gust "pushed" the airplane down. He then verified that the engine was at full power and attempted to climb, but the left wheel struck the ground, and the airplane then veered left and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was light and variable, gusting to between 8 and 10 knots. The pilot added that, when the airplane encountered the wind gust, the notch of flaps he was using "dropped out." After verifying that the engine was at full power, he attempted to "grab [the] notch of flaps but [he] wasn't fast enough."
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA18 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 2019 | Piper PA18 | Wyndmere, North Dakota, United States | Larsons Flying Service | No injuries | - |
| 9 Mar 2019 | Piper PA18 | Pullman, Washington, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 2019 | Piper PA18 | Rushville, Nebraska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 2019 | Piper PA18 | Skwentna, Alaska, United States | Northland Hangars Llc | No injuries | - |
| 13 Oct 2019 | Piper PA18 | Moose Pass, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 23 Sep 2019 | Piper PA18 | Boulder, Colorado, United States | Soaring Society Of Boulder Inc | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2019 | Maule M6 | Moose Pass, Alaska, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 12 May 2019 | Cessna A185 | Northway, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 May 2019 | De Havilland DHC-2 | Ketchikan, Alaska, United States | Mountain Air Service LLC | Fatal | 6 |
| 12 May 2019 | Stinson 108 | Soldotna, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jun 2019 | Cessna 180 | Wasilla, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 2019 | De Havilland BEAVER DHC 2 MK.1 | Kotzebue, Alaska, United States | Arctic Air LLC | No injuries | - |