No fatalities

PIPER PA-18-150 accident at McCarthy, AK, 28 Jul 2022

McCarthy, AK, United States

On July 28, 2022, a PIPER PA-18-150 operated by STATE OF ALASKA was involved in an aviation accident near McCarthy, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s improper decision to takeoff from an unimproved airstrip with a high density altitude which degraded its climb performance and led to a collision with vegetation off the end of the airstrip. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 15 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s improper decision to takeoff from an unimproved airstrip with a high density altitude which degraded its climb performance and led to a collision with vegetation off the end of the airstrip.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotEffect on equipmentEffect on operationAirspeed — Not attained/maintained