PIPER PA-18 near Skwentna, AK — 2008-06-22

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll and liftoff, which resulted in a collision with trees and the ground.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was departing from a remote airstrip that was about 2,000 feet long, and about 40 feet wide. He indicated that the center of the airstrip was gravel, with 8 inch-high grass along the edges. He said that during the takeoff roll and after the tailwheel came up, the airplane pulled to the right, possibly due to the right main landing gear encountering the grass edge. The airplane lifted off to about 15 feet while drifting to the right, and the right wingtip struck trees that were along the edge of the airstrip.

NTSB coding

• Runway excursion · Takeoff

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