No fatalities

8 Sep 2008: PIPER PA-18-135 — BRIDGES DAVID A — Coldfoot, AK

Coldfoot, AK, United States

On 8 Sep 2008, a PIPER PA-18-135 operated by BRIDGES DAVID A was involved in an aviation accident near Coldfoot, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to attain/maintain sufficient flying speed during initial climb. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A private pilot, taking off from an off-airport site, reported that after becoming airborne, the airplane 'sank' during a turn due to rising terrain, leading to a touchdown on tundra and a nose-over.

Accident Overview

A private pilot was conducting a personal local flight from an off-airport site under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot reported that the takeoff site was slightly uphill. After becoming airborne, he attempted to increase airspeed by dropping flaps and lowering the nose.

Pilot Report

According to the pilot, rising terrain necessitated a turn downwind. During the turn, the airplane "sank." The airplane subsequently touched down on the tundra and nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.

Post-Accident Findings

No further details were provided regarding the condition of the airplane or the pilot. The investigation did not identify any mechanical anomalies. The pilot reported no preexisting issues with the airplane's systems or controls.

Contributing factors

Airspeed — Not attained/maintainedPilot