Piper PA 18-150 accident near Chugiak, Alaska, April 30, 2017
On April 30, 2017, a 1977 Piper PA 18-150, registered N82563, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Chugiak, Alaska (Birchwood airport). It was a personal 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
A fracture and collapse of the main landing gear. Contributing to the accident was corrosion to the hydrasorb lug fitting.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 2017
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Birchwood · 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, built 1977 · all PA 18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N82563 · registry record · serial 18-7709014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing the airplane on a gravel runway when the right main landing gear collapsed; subsequently, both wings struck the ground. A postaccident examination revealed that the outer radius of the attaching lug on the extension tube that connected the wheel axle to the left main landing gear shock unit was fractured at the shock unit attachment. Visual examination of the fractured lug fitting revealed a flat fracture surface that was perpendicular to the long axis of the fitting, which had extensive evidence of rust and pitting throughout the circumference of the fitting.
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) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 827.5 hours in all; 235.6 in this make and model; 17.6 in the last 90 days; 9.3 in the last 30 days; 827.5 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 23, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 2016; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 A2A (piston); 2,708 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ninilchik AK at 10:10 pm
- Destination: PABV Chugiak AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20L, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from PABV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 8, 2021. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | PA-18-150 Super Cub Ipc (Main Landing Gear Diagram, Including Hydrasorb) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Exemplar Hydrasorb Assemby Showing Lug Fittings | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 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.