# Accident 20260519006009A: Piper PA-18A 150, Iliamna, AK, May 19, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 19, 2026, 09:30 local time
- Place: Iliamna, AK
- Airport: Airport Name
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: UB8C
- Location: 59.4030° N, 154.2502° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.4030&lon=-154.2502&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9250D, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9250D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18A 150 (registry code 7101837, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-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-18A 150
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,700 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC26LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA043) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260519006009A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 19, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 0930 AKDT, A PA-18A-150 WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED UPON LANDING AT A REMOTE HUNTING CAMP LOCATION NEAR ILIAMNA ALAKSA. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED FROM THE HUNTING CAMP SEVERAL MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE ACCIDENT PILOT AND SOLE OCCUPANT OF THE AIRCRAFT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER DEPARTING THE HUNTING CAMP AND DURING CRUSE CLIMB, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE WHILE TRANSITING RISING TERRAIN. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AGL, IT ABRUPTLY ROLLED LEFT AND THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE INTENDED FLIGHT PATH WITH EXTREME RIGHT YAW AND NOSE LOW PITCH ATTITUDE. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNCONTROLLABLE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER FROM THE RAPID CHANGES IN PITCH AND ROLL. DURING THIS UNCONTROLLED CONDITION, THE AIRCRAFT LOST SIGNIFICANT ALTITUDE TO THE POINT THAT THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR TIRE CONTACTED A ROCK PILE ON THE SURFACE. AFTER CONTACT WITH THE ROCK PILE, THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO PARTIALLY REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA COMMUNICATED TO THE ACCIDENT PILOT VIA RADIO THAT HIS RIGHT LANDING GEAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THE ACCIDENT PILOT STATED THE AIRCRAFT HAD A STRONG RIGHT YAW TENDENCY THAT REQUIRED SIGNIFICANT LEFT RUDDER INPUT TO CORRECT. THE PILOT ASSESSED THE SITUATION AND ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE HUNTING CAMP FROM WHICH HE HAD PREVIOUSLY DEPARTED. UPON LANDING, THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT THROUGH MOST OF THE GROUND ROLLOUT ON THE LEFT LANDING GEAR UNTIL IT SLOWED ENOUGH THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE AND RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE GROUND CONTACT DURING LANDING RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSELAGE AND BOTH WING LIFT STRUTS.  THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES.

## 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 ANC26LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA043), May 19, 2026: Piper PA-18A 150 (N9250D), Tyonek, AK, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

## Other reports on N9250D (1)

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

- [Accident 19800217009929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800217009929A), Feb 17, 1980: Piper PA18A (N9250D), Cantwell, AK, Destroyed. Engine lost power on takeoff. Stalled airplane into trees. Possible carburetor ice.

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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