Piper PA-18 accident near Beluga, Alaska, August 29, 2026
On August 29, 2026 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1951 Piper PA-18, registered N15XX, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Beluga, Alaska (Gravel Strip airport). 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2026 · about 7:15 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Beluga, Alaska · Gravel Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18, built 1951 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N15XX · registry record · serial 18-811
- 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,453 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2026; 20.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,200 ft by 12 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from PANC, 36 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR PANC 291853Z 22004KT 10SM FEW010 FEW050 FEW070 FEW130 13/09 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP087 T01330094
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 N15XX the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N15XX on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-18 Super Cub 3,620 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N15XX 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC26LA093.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.