Piper PA-18-135 accident near Skwentna, Alaska, July 16, 2021
On July 16, 2021 at about 8:20 pm local time, a 1954 Piper PA-18-135, registered N99640, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Skwentna, Alaska (Private 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
The pilot’s use of excessive braking which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2021 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, 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-18-135, built 1954 · all PA-18-135s on the register
- Registration
- N99640 · no longer on the register · serial 54-2642
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he was landing on an unimproved runway with calm winds. After landing, he applied brakes, but felt he needed more. When he increased brake pressure, the tail of the airplane rose, the prop struck the ground and the airplane flipped over, resulting in substantial damage to the rudder, vertical stabilizer and right lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures 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 › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 27,085 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 19,132 as pilot in command; 1,190 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 19, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,542 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 8, 2020; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-A2B (piston); 1,865 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4AK6 Wasilla AK at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from PATK, 41 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PATK 161953Z 31003KT 10SM CLR 21/11 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP169 T02110111
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N99640 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.