# Accident 19970401004939A: Piper PA18150, Noatak, AK, April 1, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 1, 1997, 11:45 local time
- Place: Noatak, AK
- Airport: Noatak
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 67.5691° N, 162.9997° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=67.5691&lon=-162.9997&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4500W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4500W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150
- Reported engine: LYC O320B2B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,413 total, 5 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97TA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97TA045) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970401004939A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NPS PILOT NOT FLOWN FOR 3 MONTHS WAS PRACTICING LANDINGS. PORPOSIED. GROUND LOOPED. DAMAGED EMPANNAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97TA045](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97TA045), Apr 1, 1997: Piper PA-18 (N4500W), Noatak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop and damage to the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were: the ice/snow…

## Other reports on N4500W (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20260915012659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260915012659A), Sep 15, 2026: Piper PA-18-150 (N4500W), Roundup, MT, Substantial damage. On September 15, 2026, a Piper cub, PA-18 was landing at a back country landing area near grass range, Montana. Upon landing rollout, the aircraft rolled over…
- [Accident 20181027020999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181027020999A), Oct 27, 2018: Piper PA-18-150 (N4500W), Denver, CO, Substantial damage. On 10/27/2018 at 11:52 MDT, N4500W a Piper super cub PA-18-150 sustained substantial damage to its right wing after ground loop during landing rollout on…
- [Accident 20030903025479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030903025479A), Sep 3, 2003: Piper PA18150 (N4500W), Koliganek, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) After departing naknek, Alaska on the morning of September 3, 2003, pilot james coryell landed once at levelock, took off and flew northwest. While…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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