The pilot told investigators that during takeoff at the private airport in Island Park, Idaho, the Piper PA-18-150 abruptly rolled to the right.
He attempted to correct this by applying full left aileron and rudder inputs, but the airplane did not respond.
Subsequently, the right wing tip hit the ground, followed by the nose of the airplane, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot was seriously injured in the crash.
After the accident, water was observed draining from the interior of the right wing around the wing root.
According to the pilot, the airplane had been exposed to heavy rainfall the night before the accident. He further noted that water had accumulated in the wing prior to takeoff and that he had no means to detect or remove the water before takeoff.
Probable Cause: A loss of lateral control during takeoff due to an accumulation of water in the right wing.
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This August 2024 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.
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