On September 3, 2007, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N2355H) operated by State OF Alaska was involved in an aviation accident near Valdez, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff. A factor contributing to the accident was an inadvertent stall/mush. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A commercially certificated State Trooper pilot reported that his airplane descended and its left wing struck the ground after he applied a second notch of flaps during a short field takeoff from an off-airport landing site.
Incident Summary
A commercially certificated pilot employed as a State Trooper was conducting an aerial patrol when he landed at an off-airport site to survey the area. After completing the survey, he attempted a short field takeoff from the site. As the airplane became airborne and approached rising terrain, the pilot applied a second notch of flaps. He then applied forward pressure on the controls to maintain level flight, but the airplane began to descend. The left wing subsequently struck the ground.
Aircraft Damage
The accident resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. No other information regarding injuries or aircraft specifics was provided in the source.