# Accident 20091114051429A: Piper PA-18-150, Anchorage, AK, November 14, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 14, 2009, 14:30 local time
- Place: Anchorage, AK
- Airport: Off Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 60.5172° N, 150.7339° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.5172&lon=-150.7339&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3797Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3797Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-A2A (registry code 42261, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 270 total, 137 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC10CA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA008) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091114051429A

## Narrative

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

ON NOV. 14, 2009, AIRMAN LANDED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MT. SUSITNA.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH TUNDRA TIRES.  THE PILOT PERFORMED A COUPLE OF LOW PASSES OVER THE INTENDED LANDING AREA THEN PERFORMED A LANDING WITHOUT INCIDENT.  THE PILOT THEN ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF. THE PILOT DID NOT GET OUT AND WALK THE INTENDED TAKEOFF AREA.  DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT TIRES SANK INTO APPROX. 15 INCHES OF SOFT SNOW.  THIS RAPID DECELERATION CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO FLIP OVER ONTO ITS BACK.THE PILOT AND PASSENGER HAD EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE ALASKA LAW ON BOARD AND UTILIZED THE EQUIPMENT TO SURVIVE UNTIL RESCUE CAME THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS WEARING A HELMET AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH AND FELT THAT HAD PREVENTED HIM FROM BEING INJURED.ACCORDING TO PILOT, THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE LOCATION AND TIME OF  THE ACCIDENT WERE CLEAR, LIGHT WIND, AND SUNNY.  THE PILOT STATED THAT FLAT LIGHT WAS NOT A FACTOR.

## 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 ANC10CA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA008), Nov 14, 2009: Piper PA-18-150 (N3797Z), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to land and attempt to takeoff from an unsuitable off-airport site.

## Other reports on N3797Z (2)

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

- [Accident 20250914017739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250914017739A), Sep 14, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N3797Z), St. Mary'S, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot flew to the location approximately 1/2 mile from the hunting camp to harvest moose meat. He loaded 1 hind quarter and 1 front should into the…
- [Accident 20170925020909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170925020909A), Sep 25, 2017: Piper PA-18-150 (N3797Z), Beluga, AK, Substantial damage. Gusty winds blew tail up after stopping on the runway, aircraft flipped onto it's back.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.