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WPR21LA328

2021-08-19 · Wasilla, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 4AK6

Current FAA registration · N89ZW

Make / Model
PIPER PA-18-150
Year of manufacture
1975 · 46 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES (150 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19750708
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S AC454F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s inability to maintain control of the airplane during taxi after it encountered the prop wash from a larger airplane that was conducting a high-power engine run on the same taxiway.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, after landing he taxied back up the runway to the north. As he reached the end of the runway, and approached the most northerly taxiway, he had to maneuver around another airplane that was parked partially in the taxiway easement and on the runway. As he began to make a right turn onto the taxiway, the airplane was blown sideways about 15-20 ft as a result of the wind from the operating propellers (prop-wash) from a turbo-prop airplane performing a full engine run at a maintenance hangar. The pilot stated that his airplane was dropped onto its left wing and subsequently was spun to the south. Despite the pilot’s attempt of using full brakes to keep the airplane in place, the airplane slid backward and was temporary lifted airborne before it collided with the ground. As a result of the impact, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left rear spar and aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions 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.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Capability exceeded
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Aircraft-Ability to respond/compensate

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_WPR21LA328.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

Related research

Matched on aircraft type or causal vocabulary (maintenance). All research papers