# Accident 20250409003539A: Piper PA-18-150, Bethel, AK, April 9, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 9, 2025, 10:30 local time
- Place: Bethel, AK
- Airport: Bethel, H Marker Lake
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: YGZC
- Location: 60.8013° N, 161.8230° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8013&lon=-161.8230&mi=10
- Aircraft: N57617, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57617) (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: Airline transport, commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC25LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA033) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250409003539A

## Narrative

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

PILOT ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF WITH QUARTERING TAILWIND ON A SLICK ICED OVER LAKE, ABORTED TAKEOFF, UNABLE TO STOP AND STRUCK THE FAR BANK.

## 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 ANC25LA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA033), Apr 9, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N57617), Bethel, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane was not attaining sufficient airspeed for takeoff and subsequently departed the end of the lake and collided with terrain.

## Other reports on N57617 (4)

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

- [Accident 19960703020009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960703020009A), Jul 3, 1996: Piper PA18150 (N57617), Cantwell, AK, Substantial damage. Crosswind gust caused plane to veer off sandy strip into alder trees. Ground looped. (From .4) the pilot and passenger were departing a remote and sandy area…
- [Accident 19840901045549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840901045549A), Sep 1, 1984: Piper PA18150 (N57617), Slana, AK, Substantial damage. After aircraft touched down on road, gust of wind caused aircraft to veer off of road into bushes.
- [Accident 19820429014029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820429014029A), Apr 29, 1982: Piper PA18150 (N57617), Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. Held brakes on full power runup for a short field takeoff. Foot slipped off brake. Airplane turned up on a wing.
- [Accident 19810724044219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810724044219A), Jul 24, 1981: Piper PA18150 (N57617), Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was dropping objects to person on ground and float hit rock causing aircraft to crash.

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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