Piper PA 18-150 accident near Delta Junction, Alaska, September 19, 2013
On September 19, 2013 at about 1:00 am local time, a 1957 Piper PA 18-150, registered N7190D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Delta Junction, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate takeoff planning and judgment that did not consider the reduced acceleration due to snow-covered terrain, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 19, 2013 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Delta Junction, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18-150 A150, built 1957 · all PA 18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N7190D · registry record · serial 18-5657
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during takeoff from a snow-covered mountain ridgeline, the airplane did not attain sufficient airspeed to takeoff before reaching the end of the site, so he aborted the takeoff. During the aborted takeoff, the airplane rolled to the end of the site and impacted an area of rough and uneven terrain, and eventually came to rest on the forward fuselage. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. 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 on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › (general) › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 9,057 hours in all; 8,455 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 9,017 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 8, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,816 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Delta Junction AK at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Salcha AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,800 ft; a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PABI, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
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.