Piper PA-18-150 accident near Cold Bay, Alaska, May 7, 2021
On May 7, 2021 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1955 Piper PA-18-150, registered N717DR, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Cold Bay, Alaska (Cold Bay 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 failure to maintain directional control during takeoff in a gusty crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2021 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cold Bay, Alaska · Cold Bay · 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 1955 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N717DR · registry record · serial 18-4387
- 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 takeoff with a quartering crosswind, the tailwheel-equipped airplane encountered a gust of wind, veered right, and exited the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest upright and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,791 hours in all; 2,810 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 4,750 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 4, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 10,179 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.29 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from PACD, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PACD 072053Z 09014G21KT 10SM -RA OVC034 06/04 A2929 RMK AO2 PK WND 08029/1957 SLP919 P0003 60011 T00610039 55002
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 November 12, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Pictures | 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.
Other NTSB records under N717DR the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.