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Atlas / NTSB / ANC15CA014

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event ANC15CA014

2015-03-08 Talkeetna, Alaska, United States Airport · 21AK None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N5348T

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

PIPER PA-18-150

Engine

LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES (150 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19790928

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A6C2CB

Registrant of record

DAVIS SAMUEL T

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff from an icy surface in gusty wind conditions.

Factual narrative

The pilot was taking off in his tundra tire equipped airplane on a private, ice-covered, gravel runway. He stated that during the takeoff roll ruts in the ground caused him to lose control of the airplane. The airplane struck a snow berm and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot was taking off in his tundra tire equipped airplane on a private, ice-covered, gravel runway. He stated that during the takeoff roll ruts in the ground caused him to lose control of the airplane. The airplane struck a snow berm and sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot stated 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

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
  • Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-(general)-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2015_ANC15CA014.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.