Piper PA-18-150 accident near Dillingham, Alaska, July 12, 2025
On July 12, 2025 at about 1:30 am local time, a 1978 Piper PA-18-150, registered N82109, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Dillingham, Alaska (Shannons Pond airport). It was a personal 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 pilot’s failure to maintain direction control during takeoff roll which resulted in a ground loop, and subsequent runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2025 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Dillingham, Alaska · Shannons Pond · 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 1978 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N82109 · registry record · serial 18-7809130
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that as she applied throttle for takeoff the nose veered to the right, she corrected with left rudder pedal. However, the airplane continued to veer to the right, the pilot added more throttle which worsened the right turn. Subsequently the pilot closed the throttle and applied left brake, the airplane turned to the left, ground looped and exited the runway. The airplane came to rest in a ditch adjacent to the runway, the two occupants were able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and tail section. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 170.7 hours in all; 5.2 in this make and model; 5.2 in the last 90 days; 1.1 in the last 30 days; 136.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,278.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 2,226 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway NE/S, 1,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4.6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.67 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from PADL, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PADL 111656Z 00000KT 10SM SCT075 13/11 A2969 RMK AO2 SLP056 T01280106
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Image of accident airplane
Photograph 2 – Image of damage to right wing
Photograph 3 – Image of damage to tail sectionThe 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 September 5, 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 | 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.