N8281C – PIPER PA 18 – 2014-03-08 NTSB Accident Report

On March 08, 2014, a Piper PA 18 (N8281C) was involved in an incident near Tanana, 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 passenger inadvertently interfered with the rudder control pedal, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff.

The pilot reported that during the takeoff run, just before liftoff from a frozen, snow-covered lake, the ski-equipped airplane bounced over a snow drift. The pilot applied corrective action; however, rudder control inputs were momentarily unresponsive and the airplane's left wing tip contacted the snow covered lake. The pilot regained rudder authority and continued the takeoff. After the airplane became airborne the pilot learned that his rear seat passenger's foot (boot) inadvertently interfered with the rudder control pedal. The pilot continued the flight to his planned destination and landed without further incident. After landing, the pilot noted damage to the left wing, which was later classified as substantial damage.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC14CA018. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N8281C.