Piper PA-18-150 accident near Skwentna, Alaska, September 3, 2013
On September 3, 2013 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N40205, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Skwentna, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to take off from a remote, rough landing site in gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2013 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N40205 · no longer on the register · serial 18-7509114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was taking off from an off-airport landing site near the top of a mountain ridge, in gusty wind conditions, in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the takeoff roll, a gust of wind pushed the airplane onto rough terrain, which resulted in the airplane becoming airborne before it had sufficient speed to maintain flight. When the airplane settled back to the ground, the main landing gear broke off, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 734 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 30, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2013; 3 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 2,450 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BCV Chugiak AK at 5:00 pm
- Destination: BCV Chugiak AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; a few clouds at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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
1 document, released by the NTSB on November 20, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.