Piper PA-18S-150 accident near Palmer, Alaska, April 30, 2026
On April 30, 2026 at about 2:30 am local time, a 1963 Piper PA-18S-150, registered N3982Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Palmer, 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 30, 2026 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18S-150, built 1963 · all PA-18S-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3982Z · registry record · serial 18-7925
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: PAAQ Palmer AK at 2:10 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from AAQ, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR PAAQ 300153Z 05010KT 10SM OVC050 06/M01 A2996 RMK AO2 RAB20E31 SLP150 P0000 T00561006
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N3982Z 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.