On 16 Oct 2015, a PIPER PA 18-150 A150 operated by JUNGEMANN, JOEL D. was involved in an aviation accident near Old Harbor, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, resulting in a collision with terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a touch-and-go landing on a beach, the airplane rotated 90 degrees after becoming airborne, causing the left wing to impact the ground. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the wing, empennage, and elevator.
Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during a planned touch-and-go landing on a beach, the aircraft touched down, power was added, and it became airborne. Shortly after lift-off, the airplane unexpectedly rotated 90 degrees to the right. This rotation caused the left wing to strike the ground. The aircraft came to rest upright on an embankment.
Damage Assessment
The accident resulted in substantial damage to the left wing, the empennage, and the elevator. No other damage was reported.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that the intention was to "roll the tires" on the beach. He further reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies before or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation.