| Crash location | 61.710000°N, 151.520000°W
Reported location is a long distance from the NTSB's reported nearest city. This often means that the location has a typo, or is incorrect. |
| Nearest city | Susitna, AK
61.543611°N, 150.512500°W 35.0 miles away |
| Tail number | N959E |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 13 Sep 2014 |
| Aircraft type | Piper Pa 18-135 |
| Additional details: | None |
The pilot reported that he was departing from a wet and soft off-airport site, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, during gusty wind conditions. He stated that shortly after takeoff, as the airplane neared the departure end of the site, the headwind abruptly decreased, and the airplane subsequently descended into an area of brush-covered terrain at the end of the site. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for gusting, variable wind conditions during initial climb after takeoff.