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ANC13CA006

2012-10-20 · Cordova, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N3360P

Make / Model
PIPER PA-18-125
Year of manufacture
1950 · 62 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES (140 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19700609
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A3AE7F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during takeoff.

Factual narrative

The pilot was departing from a tidal beach in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the takeoff roll, the pilot stated that he lost visual reference through the windscreen because the sun was in his eyes, and he allowed the right wingtip to contact some alder brush, which forced the airplane to ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, and the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot was departing from a tidal beach in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the takeoff roll, the pilot stated that he lost visual reference through the windscreen because the sun was in his eyes and that he allowed the right wingtip to contact some alder brush, which forced the airplane to ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the left horizontal stabilizer. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Response/compensation - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Glare-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2012_ANC13CA006.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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