Piper PA 18 accident near Mcgrath, Alaska, May 16, 2020
On May 16, 2020 at about 5:40 pm local time, a 1950 Piper PA 18, registered N5478H, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Mcgrath, 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 failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with trees and impacted with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 16, 2020 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mcgrath, 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, built 1950 · all PA 18s on the register
- Registration
- N5478H · registry record · serial 18-70
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the departure roll, and as the airplane began to lift off, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the left. The left wing contacted a tree and the airplane veered to the left and impacted a dirt embankment. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 698.4 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 589 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 526 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 2, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,499 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 504 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mcgrath AK
- Destination: Chugiak AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway PVT, 1,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:01 pm from PAFS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 9, 2020. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo | PDF, 1 page | 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.