Piper PA18 accident near Juneau, Alaska, December 3, 2020
On December 3, 2020 at about 1:00 am local time, a 2013 Piper PA18, registered N4900C, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Juneau, Alaska (Juneau Intl airport). 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 solo student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during taxi in strong crosswind conditions, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with a ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 3, 2020 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Juneau, Alaska · Juneau Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA18, built 2013 · all PA18s on the register
- Registration
- N4900C · registry record · serial A1-18062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot reported that, while taxiing to park, a strong crosswind lifted the right wing and that the airplane then began to roll. He attempted to correct for the roll to no avail, and the airplane subsequently ran off the side of the taxiway and impacted a drainage ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and right lift struts. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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 taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 720.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320--A2B (piston); 720 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAGS Gustavus AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 25 knots, gusting 45
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.56 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PAJN
Weather report (METAR): PAJN 030053Z 12025G45KT 10SM -RA BKN055 OVC070 11/00 A2956 RMK A02 PK WND 12047/0041 RAB49 SLP010 P0000 T01060000 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4900C 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.