The pilot was taking off from a sloping beach in Kenai, Alaska, in his tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-18A-150. He noted that the tide had come in, narrowing his takeoff path.
During the takeoff roll, the right main landing gear tire hit an object on the beach, the plane pivoted to the left, and the left wing struck a group of alders.
The airplane ground looped, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and horizontal stabilizer.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s loss of directional control during takeoff, resulting in a collision with terrain and ground loop.
NTSB Identification: ANC14CA023
This April 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
OTOH, the pilot probably neglected the walk because of the incoming tide’s encroachment on his runway width. And everyone wonders about the contrary aircraft pivot.
I’m wondering the same thing as Paul. The plane should have turned to the right if it hit something with the right gear. I wonder if that could have been a typo in the actual report.
Did I miss something? If the right main landing gear tire struck something how did the airplane manage to pivot to the left rather than to the right?
The pilot should have walked the beach prior to takeoff to ensure there was no debris that might pose a hazard. If he had, he might have found the ‘object’ he hit.
Brilliant!!!