Piper PA-18-150 N4231Z

Summary

On 20 May 2023 at about 01:02 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N4231Z was involved in an accident near Hunter Creek, 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

20 May 2023 at 01:02

Classification

Accident

Location

Hunter Creek, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Palmer Municipal (PAQ)

Coordinates

61.4438, -148.7007

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N4231Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wasilla → Palmer

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC23LA037

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff roll in gusting wind conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll from a remote gravel bar in a tundra tire-equipped airplane, a gusting crosswind banked the airplane to the right, and it subsequently came to rest inverted and sustained substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of takeoff, the pilot reported the winds to be gusting about 45 to 50 knots, which he said exceeded rudder and aileron authority.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.