20110319006569A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18A 150 · Beluga Lake, AK · March 19, 2011

Date: March 19, 2011 · 12:00 local
Place: Beluga Lake, AK
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3573P
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC11CA020
Reported as: Piper PA-18A-150
Reported engine: Lycoming 0-320 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot

N3573PRegistered now · Piper PA-18A 150S/N 18-4527 · Built 1955 Airframe modelPiper PA-18A 150 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The pilot departed the lake hood strip in anchorage, Alaska on 3-19-2011 and did not file a flight plan. The pilot landed on a glacier approximately 65 miles west of anchorage, dug a ski into the snow, and flipped the airplane unto its back. His 121.5 ELT activated but was not picked up. The pilot started hiking off the glacier and was picked up four days later by the Alaska air national guard.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT DEPARTED THE LAKE HOOD STRIP IN ANCHORAGE, ALASKA ON 3-19-2011 AND DID NOT FILE A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT LANDED ON A GLACIER APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES WEST OF ANCHORAGE, DUG A SKI INTO THE SNOW, AND FLIPPED THE AIRPLANE UNTO ITS BACK. HIS 121.5 ELT ACTIVATED BUT WAS NOT PICKED UP. THE PILOT STARTED HIKING OFF THE GLACIER AND WAS PICKED UP FOUR DAYS LATER BY THE ALASKA AIR NATIONAL GUARD.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC11CA020Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportBeluga Lake, AKThe pilot's decision to land on unsuitable terrain, resulting in the airplane nosing over.Mar 19, 2011 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N3573P · 3

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

Incident 20250909017449ITaxi · Mcgrath, AKThe incident took place near Mcgrath at madison creek. Pilot was taxiing on the runway and was attempting to turn the aircraft to position for takeoff. The tail came up, and the PIC had a prop strike.Sep 9, 2025 · Minor damage Accident 20031011026589AGo Round (Aborted VFR) · Ketchikan, AK(-23) While practicing landing in the pattern aircraft veered to the right at touchdown. Pilot overcorrected then tried to initiate a go-around. Aircraft became airborne then stalled and contacted the ground with the right wing. The aircraft registration…Oct 11, 2003 · Substantial damage Accident 19730902033899AForced/Precautionary Landing · Kenai, AKTkof from sand bar. Carb heat ctl arm came loose at heat box. Settled into grnd.Sep 2, 1973 · Substantial damage