NTSB ANC15CA014 — 2015-03-08 · Talkeetna, Alaska, United States

Current FAA registration · N5348T

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

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N5348T Piper PA18 - 150 None

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

FAA avdata. C = Cause, 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 ↗.

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