N59645

On October 1, 2000, about 1900 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18-160 airplane, N59645, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a remote airstrip, about 15 miles west of Naknek, Alaska, at 58 degrees, 43 minutes north latitude, 157 degrees, 01 minutes west longitude. The certificated commercial pilot, and the one passenger aboard, were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 1750, from the Naknek Airport, Naknek.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on October 2, the pilot reported that as he started a southeasterly takeoff run on a 700 feet long remote airstrip, the airplane's acceleration was slow due to wet, tundra-covered terrain. He said that as he neared that end of the site, just before the airplane became airborne, he turned the airplane to the left to avoid striking a truck parked at the end of the airstrip, and the left wing struck a cabin at the end of the takeoff area. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage.

The pilot said that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane.