No fatalities

29 May 2016: PIPER PA 18 A-150 — AK AC LLC — Shulin Lake, AK

Shulin Lake, AK, United States

On 29 May 2016, a PIPER PA 18 A-150 operated by AK AC LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Shulin Lake, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees during final approach. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During landing, the pilot misjudged tree clearance, leading to a propeller strike and subsequent ground impact. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to both wings and fuselage.

Accident Overview

A pilot reported that while on short final approach to a private airstrip, he believed he had cleared trees at the approach end. However, the propeller struck a tree, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The pilot stated that he had aimed for his intended landing spot but misjudged the clearance.

Aircraft Damage

The accident resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions with any portion of the airplane that would have prevented normal flight operations.

Pilot Report

The pilot, who was the sole occupant, noted that there were no pre-existing issues with the aircraft. The flight had proceeded normally until the landing attempt.

Contributing factors

PilotAltitude — Not attained/maintainedEffect on operation