# Accident 20250302005019A: Piper PA-18-150, Butte, AK, March 2, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 2, 2025, 14:20 local time
- Place: Butte, AK
- Airport: Sandbar - No Name
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.5000° N, 148.8900° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5000&lon=-148.8900&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6999, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6999) (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 PA-18-150
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 894 total, 119 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC25LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA024) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250302005019A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN DEPARTED PABV 1400 LOCAL WITH PABV AWOS INFORMATION, HEADED FOR A LANDING STRIP ON A SAND BAR IN THE KNIK RIVER. WEATHER WAS CALM IN BIRCHWOOD, BUT ENROUTE HE EXPERIENCED LIGHT TURBULENCE AND GUSTS AT THE MOUTH OF THE KNIK RIVER VALLEY. AIRMAN DID NOT CHECK WEATHER AT PAAQ WHICH IS 5SM FROM THIS LANDING STRIP. PAAQ REPORTED WIND 14018G31. AIRMAN MADE A LOW-LEVEL PASS OVER THE STRIP FOR A WIND CHECK, THEN CAME BACK AROUND FOR A LANDING. ON SHORT FINAL, JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN, A WIND GUST "PUSHED HIM DOWN", SO HE MADE THE GO-AROUND DECISION AND ADDED FULL POWER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE SINK RATE, WHICH RESULTED IN A HARD LANDING. RH MAIN GEAR HIT THE GROUND, COMPRESSED, PROP STRUCK THE GROUND AND BROKE OFF (CARBON FIBER). AIRCRAFT REBOUNDED INTO THE AIR THEN CAME DOWN HARD AGAIN TO A FINAL STOP. PILOT WAS UNINJURED. AIRCRAFT SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 ANC25LA024](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA024), Mar 2, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N6999), Palmer, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate airspeed during the landing approach, which resulted in exceedance of the critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall, during gusting wind…

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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