Piper PA-18-150 accident near Bethel, Alaska, April 9, 2025
On April 9, 2025 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1977 Piper PA-18-150, registered N57617, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Bethel, Alaska. It was an other work-use 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 delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane was not attaining sufficient airspeed for takeoff and subsequently departed the end of the lake and collided with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2025 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bethel, 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 1977 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N57617 · registry record · serial 18-7709125
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was departing a frozen lake in his tundra tire, tailwheel-equipped airplane. The surface of the lake was “polished” smooth by wind and there was a 6 knot, 90-degree crosswind. During takeoff, the tail took longer than normal to become airborne, the pilot was planning to abort the takeoff when the tail began to lift off the ground. He continued the takeoff, but it became apparent to the pilot that the airplane would not get airborne in time. He aborted the takeoff but the airplane had insufficient braking resulting in the airplane sliding off the lake into vegetation along the shore. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.
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 on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 9,800 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 27, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,978.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 21, 2025; 10.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 4,968 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PVT Kotlik AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from PABE, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PABE 091853Z 17007KT 10SM OVC021 M13/M14 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP123 T11281144
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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 August 11, 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 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.
Other NTSB records under N57617 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.