Piper PA-18-150 accident near Cape Yakataga, Alaska, May 6, 2010
On May 6, 2010 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N90918, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Cape Yakataga, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The uncertificated pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing site, resulting in a main landing gear collapse during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 6, 2010 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cape Yakataga, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N90918 · no longer on the register · serial 18-8109044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The uncertificated pilot was landing a tailwheel-equipped airplane, with one passenger at a remote, rough and uneven off-airport site, at the completion of a Title 14, CFR Part 91, business flight. Witnesses noted that during the landing roll the airplane's right main wheel struck a log, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The right wing and right horizontal stabilizer struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right wing lift struts, empennage, and fuselage. Due to the remote location the airplane has not been examined by the NTSB.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Damaged/degraded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Flight time: 1 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cape Yakataga AK
- Destination: Cape Yakataga AK
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N90918 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.