Piper PA-18-150 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, July 1, 2021
On July 1, 2021 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 1974 Piper PA-18-150, registered N8996Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Talkeetna, Alaska (Private airport). It was an instructional 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 excessive use of brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor’s inadequate supervision and the gusty tailwind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 2021 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · Private · 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 1974 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N8996Y · registry record · serial 18-7409138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that after evaluating an uphill off-airport landing site, the pilot receiving instruction proceeded with an approach to landing. The airplane touched down long due to excessive airspeed and a gusty tailwind. During the landing rollout, and as the airplane neared the crest of the hill, excessive braking was applied and the airplane subsequently nosed-over resulting in substantial damage to the right lift strut and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on equipment
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,686 hours in all; 743 in this make and model; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 22, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,505.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320 A2B (piston); 3,498 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4AK6 Wasilla AK at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 4AK6 Wasilla AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from PATK, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PATK 012253Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/07 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP157 T02390072
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 12, 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 | Photo (Source Unknown) | 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 N8996Y 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.