# NTSB ANC24LA095: Piper PA-22-150, N808PT, Bettles, AK, September 21, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 21, 2024, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Bettles, AK · 40 miles south of Bettles
- Coordinates: 66.809574, -151.51985
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=66.8096&lon=-151.5198&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 195168
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195168/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195168
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA095

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to adequately compensate for shifting wind conditions, resulting in a hard landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-22-150, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=7102210), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while taking off from a lake in a float-equipped airplane in variable, gusty wind conditions, the wind shifted to a quartering tailwind which forced the airplane back onto the water. The hard landing resulted in substantial damage to the lift struts and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N808PT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N808PT), registered now, S/N 22-4644, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-22-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22-150) (registry code 7102210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22-4644
- Year built: 1956
- Airframe hours: 5626.9
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-a1a 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Operator: Dancing Bear Alaska, LLC
- Registered owner: Dancing Bear Alaska, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 3, 2024, 35 hours before
- Departed: PABT, Bettles, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: PABT, Bettles
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 23, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,866.3 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 1,686.9 as pilot in command, 179 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: PABT, 7 nm away
- METAR: PABT 210953Z 00000KT 10SM SCT035 BKN110 01/M01 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP120 T00061006 $

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20240921014449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240921014449A), Sep 21, 2024: Piper PA-22-150, Bettles, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot departed remote lake approximately 40 miles southwest of Bettles, AK. Upon departure from remote lake, pilot took off and executed a right-hand turn…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195168. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18821788&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA095%206120.1%20Pilot_Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident_Incident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17802527&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA095%20photos-Rel.pdf

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.

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