Piper PA-18-150 accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, July 15, 2022
On July 15, 2022, a 1955 Piper PA-18-150, registered N14LD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Port Alsworth, Alaska (Private airport). It was a business flight under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s excessive use of brakes which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2022
- Place
- Port Alsworth, 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 1955 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N14LD · registry record · serial 18-4450
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after evaluating an off-airport landing site he proceeded with an approach to landing. During the landing rollout, excessive braking was applied and the airplane subsequently nosed-over which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing, right lift strut, vertical stabilizer, 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 › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 280 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 14,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 29, 2022
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 3,390 hours total
- Operator: Copper Mountain Aviation LLC
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; a few clouds at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from PALJ, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PALJ 150050Z 25007KT 30SM FEW030 OVC080 19/12 A2983 RMK EST PASS OPEN NOSPECI
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 ANC22LA058.