# Accident 20250523012749A: Piper PA-18A 150, Susitna, AK, May 23, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 23, 2025, 08:00 local time
- Place: Susitna, AK
- Airport: Susitna River
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.5966° N, 150.4839° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5966&lon=-150.4839&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1364C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1364C) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18A 150 (registry code 7101837, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18A 150
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,300 total, 350 in this make and model, 73 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC25LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA041) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250523012749A

## Narrative

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

PILOT HAD LANDED ON A LARGE GRAVEL BAR IN THE SUSITNA RIVER AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE SUSITNA RIVER AND YENTNA RIVER. AFTERWARD, PILOT ELECTED TO LAND ON A SHORT GRAVEL BAR AND DID A PASS TO LOOK AT IT AND THEN TURNED IN CLOSE TO LAND, AND ON SHORT FINAL AIRCRAFT DESCENDED AND IMPACTED IN THE RIVER WATER, SIGNIFICANTLY SHORT OF THE INTENDED LANDING SPOT ON THE GRAVEL BAR. PILOT STATED THE WATER WAS SHALLOW, BUT THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLIPPED COMPLETELY OVER ONTO ITS BACK, AND THE PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER EXITED THE UPSIDE-DOWN AIRCRAFT INTO THE SHALLOW RIVER WATER AND WALKED TO SHORE. PILOT STATED TO FAA IIC HE THINKS HE LIKELY STALLED THE WING, AND MAY HAVE FLOWN THROUGH HIS OWN WAKE, CAUSING A SHIFT IN RELATIVE WIND AND A LOSS OF LIFT. PILOT ALSO STATED HE HAS QUITE A BIT OF TIME IN THIS AIRPLANE, BUT NOT SINCE THE WING WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED, AFTER IT WAS DAMAGED WHILE PARKED AT LAKE HOOD STRIP BY ANOTHER AIRCRAFT IMPACTING IT. PILOT ALSO DISCUSSED REGAINING FAMILIARITY WITH HIS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AFTER FLYING LARGER AIRCRAFT FOR AN AIR CARRIER, BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE FROM SMALL CONFINED OFF-AIRPORT LOCATIONS.

## 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 ANC25LA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA041), May 23, 2025: Piper PA-18A 150 (N1364C), Susitna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s encounter with shifting winds during landing, which resulted in a loss of airspeed and altitude, and subsequent contact with water.

## Other reports on N1364C (1)

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

- [Accident 19780826025399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780826025399A), Aug 26, 1978: Piper PA18A150 (N1364C), Iliamna, AK, Substantial damage. Float equipped.

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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