Event ANC03LA018

Factual narrative

On December 18, 2002, about 1100 Alaska standard time, a tundra-tire equipped Piper PA-18-105 airplane, N325T, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a ditch during takeoff from a remote off airport site, located about 25 miles southeast of Palmer, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was destined for a private airstrip located in Wasilla, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on December 19, the pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the landing gear tires dug into the soft snow, and the airplane would not accelerate. The airplane subsequently collided with a ditch at the departure end of the site, and both main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. The solo private pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, from the remote off airport site, the landing gear tires dug into the soft snow, and the airplane would not accelerate. The airplane subsequently collided with a ditch at the departure end of the site, and both main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident anomalies with the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12