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ANC14CA082

2014-09-15 · Prospect Creek, Alaska, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PPC

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff, in gusty and variable wind conditions, resulting in a collision with terrain.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported he was departing from the ramp area at the airport due to wind direction. Shortly after becoming airborne in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, a gust of wind pushed the right wing down and the aircraft momentarily flew inverted, turned 90-degrees, and then impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported he was departing from the ramp area at the airport due to wind direction. Shortly after becoming airborne in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, a gust of wind pushed the right wing down and the aircraft momentarily flew inverted, turned 90-degrees, and then impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings and fuselage. The pilot reported 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 Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Sudden wind shift-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2014_ANC14CA082.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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