20250910015399A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-11 · Gulkana, AK · September 10, 2025

Date: September 10, 2025 · 13:36 local
Place: Gulkana, AK
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N5025H
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC25LA103
Reported as: Piper PA-11
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 290 total219 in this make and model8 in the last 90 days

N5025HRegistered now · Piper PA-11S/N 11-905 · Built 1949 Airframe modelPiper PA-11 Engine modelContinental O-200 series4 cycle

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.

Pilot was taking off from a gravel bar. After takeoff, pilot reached down to retract flaps at 55 mph and approximately 50' AGL. At that time a gust of wind hit the plane from aircraft left, causing aircraft to tilt 60 degrees right. Pilot attempted to correct. By the time stability was achieved impact with terrain was unavoidable.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A GRAVEL BAR. AFTER TAKEOFF, PILOT REACHED DOWN TO RETRACT FLAPS AT 55 MPH AND APPROXIMATELY 50' AGL. AT THAT TIME A GUST OF WIND HIT THE PLANE FROM AIRCRAFT LEFT, CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO TILT 60 DEGREES RIGHT. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT. BY THE TIME STABILITY WAS ACHIEVED IMPACT WITH TERRAIN WAS UNAVOIDABLE.

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 ANC25LA103Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportLake Louise, AKThe pilot’s encounter with gusting crosswind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain.Sep 10, 2025 · Substantial damage