Piper PA-18-180 accident near Glennallen, Alaska, August 21, 2001
On August 21, 2001 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-180, registered N2871P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glennallen, Alaska (Gulkana airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during takeoff. A factor associated with the accident was a variable wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2001 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Glennallen, Alaska · Gulkana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-180 · all PA-18-180s on the register
- Registration
- N2871P · registry record · serial 18-4461
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated commerical pilot, with one passenger aboard, was departing on runway 32. During the initial climb, about four feet above the runway, the wind increased to an estimated 25 to 30 knots from northeast, and pushed the nose of the airplane 90 degrees to the right. The right wing subsequently struck a stand of trees, pivoted the airplane to the right, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. At the time of the accident the wind was reported as 010 degrees at 15 knots, with gusts to 22 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 24, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,303 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 2000; 430 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GKN Glennallen AK at 4:30 pm
- Destination: ORT Northway AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 16,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.51 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PAGK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.