Piper PA-14 accident near Nenana, Alaska, May 18, 2026
On May 18, 2026 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1949 Piper PA-14, registered N5184H, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Nenana, 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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2026 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Nenana, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-14, built 1949 · all PA-14s on the register
- Registration
- N5184H · registry record · serial 14-502
- 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 in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,278 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 2026; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: AK28 Fairbanks AK at 4:30 pm
- Destination: AK28 Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 11 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.75 inHg
- Observation at 12:00 pm from PAIN, 27 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR PAIN 181956Z AUTO 14011G17KT 10SM OVC050 07/M03 A2975 RMK AO2 SLP091 T00721028 TSNO $
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC26LA042.