Piper PA-18-150 accident near Skwentna, Alaska, June 15, 1993
On June 15, 1993 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N2571H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska (Sod Moose Hunting Strip airport). It was a business 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 IN COMMAND SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO LAND ON. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH/UNEVEN, SOFT TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1993 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · Sod Moose Hunting Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2571H · registry record · serial 18-009200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY A HUNTING LODGE. THE PILOT IN COMMAND REPORTED THAT HE LANDED AT THE REMOTE SOD STRIP IN ORDER TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO A MOOSE HUNTING CAMP LOCATED NEARBY. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT INTO THE STRIP THIS SEASON. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT, THE PLANE TRAVERSED A SOFT HUMUS AREA AND NOSED OVER ONTO ITS BACK.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 925 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 2,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,370 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 9, 1993; 1,320 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wolf Trail Lodge, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Z41 Anchorage AK at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 750 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2571H 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.