Piper PA-18 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, August 10, 2021
On August 10, 2021 at about 4:30 am local time, a 1951 Piper PA-18, registered N1264A, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Talkeetna, Alaska (Stephan Lake Lodge airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The malfunction of the control stick during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2021 · about 4:30 am local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska · Stephan Lake Lodge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 160, built 1951 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N1264A · registry record · serial 18-1060
- 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, during takeoff from a private gravel-covered airstrip, the control stick “jammed” as the airplane climbed between 10 and 15 ft above ground level. Because the pilot and the passenger were both unable to move the control stick at their positions, the pilot closed the engine throttle to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane landed in an area of tree-covered terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical problems that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. The cause of this accident could not be determined from the available evidence.
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 in flight during emergency descent
- Flight control sys malf/fail during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Control column section › Inoperative
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,492 hours in all; 1,359 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 1,409 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,203 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2021; 50 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 2,203 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 4AK6 Wasilla AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC21LA075.