Piper PA 18 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, June 15, 2018
On June 15, 2018 at about 1:55 am local time, a 1960 Piper PA 18, registered N3764Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Wasilla, Alaska (Anderson Lake 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 pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting tailwind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2018 · about 1:55 am local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Anderson Lake · 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, built 1960 · all PA 18s on the register
- Registration
- N3764Z · registry record · serial 18-7527
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during short final, the airplane encountered moderate turbulence, but he was able to maintain runway alignment and glideslope with constant power and flight control adjustments. During the landing roll, about 20 mph, the tailwheel-equipped airplane veered right. He applied full left aileron and rudder corrections, but the airplane continued to the right, exited the runway, impacted a post, and came to rest upright in a row of trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The weather observation station located about 7 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about 1 minute after the accident, wind was variable at 6 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was from 130º at 21 knots, gusting to 30 knots. The airplane landed on runway 26. The pilot added that, after landing, the wind sock was found to be damaged and was not indicating wind direction properly; it was replaced after the accident.
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
- Other weather encounter during approach (IFR final approach)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Pole › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wind sock › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,650 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 131 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days; 3,668 as pilot in command; 196 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 18, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,747 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A@B (piston); 3,378 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0AK1 Wasilla AK
- Destination: 0AK1 Wasilla AK
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 26, 1,800 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from PAWS, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 11, 2018. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N3764Z 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.