Piper PA-18-150 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, November 4, 2023
On November 4, 2023 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1963 Piper PA-18-150, registered N3994Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Wasilla, Alaska (Wasilla 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 instructor pilot’s delayed action and over application of brakes 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
- November 4, 2023 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Wasilla Airport · 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 1963 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3994Z · registry record · serial 18-7943
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While conducting an instructional flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, during the landing phase, the pilot receiving instruction touched down and the airplane began to veer towards the edge of the runway surface. The instructor pilot reported that, due to limited visibility he was slow to correct the veer. The instructor pilot took control of the airplane and applied the brakes which resulted in a nose-over and substantial damage to the rudder and right wing strut. The instructor pilot reported that there were no pre-accident 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Incorrect use/operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,395 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 5,593 as pilot in command; 2,325 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 29, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 65 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 25, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,357 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 12, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 2,389 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAQ Palmer AK at 10:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 1,620 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.36 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from AWS
Weather report (METAR): PAWS 042256Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 03/02 A2936 RMK AO2 SLP947 T00280017
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 June 28, 2024. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | 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 N3994Z 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.