No fatalities

Ground Loop and Nose-Over During Takeoff from Private Airstrip

McCarthy, AK, United States

On August 12, 2013, a PIPER PA-18-150 was involved in an aviation accident near McCarthy, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot lost directional control during takeoff from a private airstrip, causing a ground loop and nose-over. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage, with no preaccident mechanical failures reported.

Incident Overview During takeoff from a private airstrip, the pilot reported losing directional control of the airplane. This loss of control resulted in a ground loop, which subsequently led to a nose-over. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. No specific aircraft type, registration, date, operator, or location was provided in the source material. The probable cause is not explicitly stated in the source, though the pilot's report indicates a loss of directional control during takeoff.

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintained