Piper PA 18-150 accident near Aniak, Alaska, September 13, 2014
On September 13, 2014 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 1957 Piper PA 18-150, registered N9877D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Aniak, Alaska (None airport). It was an other work-use 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane resulting in a separation of the wheel axle, resulting in a collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2014 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Aniak, Alaska · None · 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
- N9877D · registry record · serial 18-6899
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane at a remote, rough and uneven off-airport site, which required a correction for a 15 to 20 mph left crosswind. He stated that during the landing roll the wind pushed the airplane to the left, which resulted in a side load on the main landing gear, and the right main landing gear wheel axle separated. The right wing subsequently struck the ground, sustaining substantial damage. 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 180 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 4, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,780 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NA Aniak AK
- Destination: NA Aniak AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway UNK, 500 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.40 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 N9877D 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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ANC14CA080.