# Accident 20250914017739A: Piper PA-18-150, St. Mary'S, AK, September 14, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 14, 2025, 11:30 local time
- Place: St. Mary'S, AK
- Airport: Off Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.3269° N, 163.1917° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3269&lon=-163.1917&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3797Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3797Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-A2A (registry code 42261, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a2a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-A2A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,105 total, 1,564 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC25LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA120) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250914017739A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT FLEW TO THE LOCATION APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE FROM THE HUNTING CAMP TO HARVEST MOOSE MEAT. HE LOADED 1 HIND QUARTER AND 1 FRONT SHOULD INTO THE AIRCRAFT. WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE LIGHT AND VARIABLE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH FROM 340 DEGREES. HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF ON A HEADING OF 170 DEGREES AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED GROUND EFFECT BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB. THE AIRCRAFT SANK BACK ONTO THE GROUND AND IMPACTED ALDERS AT THE END OF THE STRIP, SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 ANC25LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA120), Sep 14, 2025: Piper PA-18-150 (N3797Z), St Mary's, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to takeoff with a tailwind, from a short off-airport strip, which degraded the climb performance of the airplane and led to impact with trees at the end of the strip.

## Other reports on N3797Z (2)

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

- [Accident 20170925020909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170925020909A), Sep 25, 2017: Piper PA-18-150 (N3797Z), Beluga, AK, Substantial damage. Gusty winds blew tail up after stopping on the runway, aircraft flipped onto it's back.
- [Accident 20091114051429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091114051429A), Nov 14, 2009: Piper PA-18-150 (N3797Z), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. On nov. 14, 2009, airman landed on the north side of Mt. Susitna. The aircraft was equipped with tundra tires. The pilot performed a couple of low passes over…

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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