N3858Z – PIPER PA-18-150 – 2011-06-14 NTSB Accident Report

On June 14, 2011, a Piper PA-18-150 (N3858Z) was involved in an incident near Palmer, AK. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's loss of directional control while landing in a crosswind.

The pilot said he was landing at a remote, gravel-covered, off-airport site with a left crosswind. On touchdown, the airplane bounced and became airborne. He recovered from the bounce, and added power to cushion the landing, but a gust of wind lifted the left wing before touchdown. He aborted the landing, and added full engine power, but the airplane weather-vaned into the wind, and the right wing struck the ground. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC11CA047. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3858Z.