The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-18 reported that the left wing hit a tree near Gulkana, Alaska, while he was maneuvering at low altitude.
He continued to his intended destination and landed without further incident.
After he landed, a subsequent exam of the left wing revealed substantial damage to the left aileron.
The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree while maneuvering at low altitude.
NTSB Identification: GAA16CA482
This September 2016 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.
Learn from the misfortune of others
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This accident would be better understood if we knew just why the pilot was making those maneuvers at such a low altitude in the first place. Was this related to getting in/out some improvised landing area or was this caused by the typical stupidity of buzzing. Yes he never should have put the aircraft into such a dangerous situation but that condemnation can be tempered a bit if this was the unfortunate outcome of conditions that are not often seen in the lower 48. We are just not given enough information on accidents like this to really know what precipitated this scenario of danger.
Brilliant!