NTSB CAROL · Event
Event ANC13CA083
Registry · N3599A
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
PIPER PA-18A
Year of manufacture
1953 · 60 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES (140 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A409D0
Registrant of record
REED JOHN S
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff, as the tailwheel-equipped airplane lifted off of the ground, the left wing lifted, and despite his control inputs, it drifted to the right. Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees on the right side of the runway, which resulted in structural damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot added that at the time of takeoff, a 10 to 15 knot left crosswind was present. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that during takeoff, as the tailwheel-equipped airplane lifted off of the ground, the left wing lifted, and despite his control inputs, it drifted to the right. Subsequently, the airplane impacted trees on the right side of the runway, which resulted in structural damage to both wings and fuselage. The pilot added that at the time of takeoff, a 10 to 15 knot left crosswind was present. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2013_ANC13CA083.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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