Piper PA 18-150 accident near Iliamna, Alaska, October 7, 2013
On October 7, 2013 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1981 Piper PA 18-150, registered N91144, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Iliamna, Alaska. It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2013 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Iliamna, 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 1981 · all PA 18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N91144 · registry record · serial 18-8109075
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the uphill landing on the tundra with a slight tailwind, the tailwheel hit a bump and bounced off the ground. The tailwind caused the tail to rise and the airplane subsequently nosed over. The rudder and a wing strut were substantially damaged. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure 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 landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 7,500 in this make and model; 157 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 21, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,578 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 14, 2013; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-B2B (piston); 5,633 hours total
- Operator: Tom'S Alaskan Air
The flight
- Departed from: PAIL Iliamna AK at 4:30 pm
- Destination: Iliamna AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 4:30 pm from PAIL, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N91144 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC14CA001.