NTSB ANC20CA047 — 2020-05-16 · McGrath, Alaska, United States

Current FAA registration · N5478H

Make / Model: PIPER PA-18
Year of manufacture: 1950 · 70 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19560517
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A6F565

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N5478H Piper PA 18 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and impacted with the ground.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during the departure roll, and as the airplane began to lift off, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. The left wing contacted a tree and the airplane veered to the left and impacted a dirt embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations. 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
C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_ANC20CA047.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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