Piper PA 18A accident near Chickaloon, Alaska, April 7, 2020
On April 7, 2020 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1955 Piper PA 18A, registered N2791P, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Chickaloon, Alaska. 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
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing, which necessitated a go-around, and her subsequent failure to maintain clearance from rising mountainous terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2020 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chickaloon, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18A 150, built 1955 · all PA 18As on the register
- Registration
- N2791P · registry record · serial 18-4426
- 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 she was landing the airplane at a remote area of mountainous, snow-covered terrain and that she had selected an area that was slightly uphill for landing. She felt uncomfortable with the final stages of the approach, so she chose to go around. During the go-around, she added full power and started a left turn. The airplane subsequently impacted an area of rising, snow-covered terrain, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot added that she should have made another practice approach or two to verify the wind direction and local terrain conditions.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR go-around)
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 3, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 2,650 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AQY Girdwood AK
- Destination: Chickaloon AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PAAQ, 56 miles away
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 April 30, 2020. 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 | Pilot Roc | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot Narratives | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Accident Picture | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N2791P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.