Summary
On September 08, 2013, a Piper PA 18-150 (N4483Z) was involved in an incident near Talkeetna, AK. All 2 people 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 delayed decision to go-around, which resulted in a collision with water.
The pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off-airport site. On final approach she felt the wind shift, and elected to go-around. During the attempted go-around, a downdraft pushed the airplane to the ground. She steered the airplane down a tundra covered slope toward an alpine lake, in an attempt to become airborne. The airplane impacted the water sustaining substantial damage to the left wing, left aileron and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if she had made the decision to go around earlier.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC13CA096. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4483Z.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's delayed decision to go-around, which resulted in a collision with water.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane at an off-airport site. On final approach she felt the wind shift, and elected to go-around. During the attempted go-around, a downdraft pushed the airplane to the ground. She steered the airplane down a tundra covered slope toward an alpine lake, in an attempt to become airborne. The airplane impacted the water sustaining substantial damage to the left wing, left aileron and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if she had made the decision to go around earlier.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ANC13CA096