CORDOVA, AK, USA
N7459L
PIPER PA-18
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A REMOTE, UNIMPROVED LANDING SITE. HE STATED THAT HE HAD ABOUT 300 POUNDS OF DEER MEAT IN THE BACK OF THE AIRPLANE. HE STATED THAT HE WAS TIRED AND SHOULD HAVE SLEPT, BUT HE DECIDED TO TAKEOFF INSTEAD OF SPENDING THE NIGHT. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AS THE AIRPLANE BECAME LIGHT ON THE WHEELS, IT DRIFTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TAKEOFF AREA. ONE OF THE WHEELS HIT SOME BOULDERS AND SLOWED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE THEN CONTINUED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE AND NOSED OVER IN BRUSH.
On August 8, 1995, at 2130 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N7459L, registered to and operated by the pilot, crashed on takeoff from a mountain top on Montague Island, Alaska. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, was departing the accident site and the destination was Girdwood, Alaska. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated he landed on a remote, off airport, landing site on top of a mountain. He described the landing area as uphill with a field elevation of 1,000 feet above mean sea level. He estimated the landing area to be 500 to 600 feet in length and the surface was very rough. The pilot stated he landed approximately 1430, hunted for a short time, shot four deer, and prepared the meat for transport. He said that after he "dressed out" the deer, the meat weighed 300 pounds. He said that the time was 2115 when he completed the task. He said he was tired and he should have slept on the mountain, but he elected to takeoff. The pilot stated he did not walk the takeoff area, as he normally does, to establish "visual cues." He started his takeoff roll in the downhill direction. He said that as the airplane was getting light on its wheels, it drifted off the right side of the takeoff area. The wheels struck some large boulders and the airplane slowed down. The airplane continued off the right side of the takeoff area and nosed over in the brush.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN PROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE INTENDED TAKEOFF AREA DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: PILOT FATIGUE AND THE PROXIMITY OF ROCKS/BOULDERS TO THE TAKEOFF AREA.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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