Piper PA-18-150 accident near Skwentna, Alaska, September 15, 2024
On September 15, 2024 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1979 Piper PA-18-150, registered N2466H, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Skwentna, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during taxi in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 2024 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150, built 1979 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2466H · registry record · serial 18-7909187
- 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, while maneuvering during back-taxi after landing on a backcountry airstrip, a gust of wind caught the airplane’s tail. The airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder and left wing lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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 taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 939.3 hours in all; 335 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 160 in the last 30 days; 542 as pilot in command; 4 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 30, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 2024; 85 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 507 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAQY Girdwood AK at 7:30 pm
- Destination: PAQY Girdwood AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.43 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from PANC, 30 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PANC 152053Z 18013G25KT 10SM FEW060 SCT075 13/06 A2943 RMK AO2 PK WND 19026/2001 SLP968 T01330061 53001
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Image of the accident airplane at the accident site
Photograph 2 – Image of the left wing, fuselage, and empennage
Photograph 3 – Image of the rudder and vertical stabilizerThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 12, 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, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.