KOTZEBUE, AK, USA
N2413P
Piper PA-18
The private pilot was departing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. He reported that when he applied full power to begin the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left, departed the runway, and nosed over. The airplane received damage to the wings, fuselage, and the vertical stabilizer. The only mechanical problem the pilot noted was dirty thrust washers installed on the tailwheel assembly.
On June 24, 2000, about 1010 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N2413P, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Ralph Wien Memorial Airport, Kotzebue, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 24, the pilot reported he was departing on runway 08. He applied full power to begin the takeoff roll. The airplane veered to the left, ran off the left side of the runway, and nosed over. The pilot said the left main wheel brake assembly may have locked. He commented that he had flown the airplane numerous times in the past few days without any mechanical problems. The airplane received damage to both wings, fuselage, and the vertical stabilizer. On August 21, 2000, the pilot telephoned the NTSB IIC, and reported that he was unable to find a mechanical problem with the left main wheel brake assembly. The only mechanical problem appeared to be the tailwheel assembly thrust washers were dirty. At 1016, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Kotzebue was reporting, in part: Wind, 172 degrees (magnetic) at 8 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, 12,000 feet scattered, 20,000 feet broken; temperature, 53 degrees F; dew point, 39 degrees F; altimeter, 30.02 inHg.
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during takeoff.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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