Piper PA-18-150 accident near Dry Creek, Alaska, May 14, 2024
On May 14, 2024 at about 11:10 pm local time, a 1968 Piper PA-18-150, registered N4387Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Dry Creek, Alaska. It was an other work-use flight under public-use (government) rules. 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 receiving instruction’s excessive use of brakes during landing, and the pilot providing instruction’s inadequate supervision, resulting 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
- May 14, 2024 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Dry Creek, Alaska · 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 1968 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4387Z · no longer on the register · serial 18-8709
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that the purpose of the flight was to provide initial off-airport training to a pilot in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot receiving instruction was seated in the front seat, and the pilot providing instruction was seated in the back seat. After completing a series of stop-and-go landings at various off-airport sites, the pair landed at a 600 ft gravel-covered site. After a brief stay at the site, the pair elected to continue practicing stop-and-go landings. During the second landing at the site, as the pilot receiving instruction was manipulating the controls, the airplane bounced slightly at touchdown, then it touched down again in a three-point landing. As the landing rollout continued, about half-way down the site, the airplane decelerated quickly, and the tail began to rise. In an attempt to lower the tail of the airplane, the pilot providing instruction applied full aft elevator, and tried to instruct the pilot receiving instruction to correct the excessive braking action. The airplane subsequently nosed over, sustaining substantial damage to the rudder, and wing struts. The operator stated 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 › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other person › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,770 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 3,670 as pilot in command; 47 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 3, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 446 hours in all; 367 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 352 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 28, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,202.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 26, 2024; 25.2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 460 hours total
- Operator: State Of Alaska
The flight
- Destination: PVT Delta Junction AK
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PABI, 39 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PABI 142353Z 23008KT 10SM FEW022 FEW046 BKN060 BKN130 08/02 A2991 RMK AO2 RAE45 SLP143 SHRA DSNT NE/S P0000 60000 T00830022 10094 20050 56007
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 March 28, 2025. 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 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 4 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 N4387Z 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.