Piper PA 18 accident near Beluga, Alaska, September 23, 2019
On September 23, 2019, a 1956 Piper PA 18, registered N7071B, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Beluga, Alaska. 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 decision to perform a takeoff with an overweight float-equipped airplane, which resulted in diminished climb performance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 2019
- Place
- Beluga, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18 150, built 1956 · all PA 18s on the register
- Registration
- N7071B · registry record · serial 18-5146
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot performed a takeoff in his float-equipped airplane from a small lake with one passenger. The pilot estimated the lake to be 750 ft long, the weight of the airplane at 1,716 lbs, and the wind to be light and variable between 3 and 8 knots. He applied full power with one notch of extended flaps. At 40 mph, he extended the flaps another notch and the airplane lifted off the water, but it was unable to climb. The pilot and passenger stated that they did not observe or hear any abnormal engine indications. According to the pilot, the airplane descended to the ground beyond the lake, and the right float and wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The night of the accident, the pilot stated that he overloaded the airplane with moose meat and was forced to land after takeoff; he later stated that he did not know what caused the lack of climb performance, but “maybe it was a lack of engine power.” Additionally, he reported that he estimated the meat’s weight without weighing it, but he was confident that, including the load, the airplane’s takeoff weight was within the maximum gross weight limit, which was 1,760 lbs. The investigation was unable to determine the actual takeoff weight of the airplane due to the remote location of the accident and inaccessibility of the evidence. Postaccident engine examination and an engine test run revealed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. Given the pilot’s initial statement that the airplane was overloaded, his failure to weigh the load, and no evidence of engine anomalies, it is likely that the moose meat weighed more than the pilot estimated and that the airplane was overweight during the takeoff from the small lake.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Aircraft loading event during prior to flight
- Loss of lift during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Beluga AK
- Destination: Beluga AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.55 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from PANC, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on November 4, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Record of Conversation (Pilot) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation (Passenger) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Engine Test Run Memo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Logbook Excerpts and Weight and Balance | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Engine Test Video | MOV file | Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.