# NTSB ANC24LA099: Piper PA-18-150, N2466H, Skwentna, AK, September 15, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 15, 2024, 13:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Coordinates: 61.4455, -150.9137
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4455&lon=-150.9137&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- 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 FSDO - ANC, FAA Anchorage FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 195180
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC24LA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195180/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195180
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC24LA099

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during taxi in gusting wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi-from runway: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while maneuvering during back-taxi after landing on a backcountry airstrip, a gust of wind caught the airplane’s tail. The airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder and left wing lift struts. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N2466H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2466H), registered now, S/N 18-7909187 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7909187
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 2500
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Raven Girl LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2024, 85 hours before
- Departed: PAQY, Girdwood, AK
- Destination: PAQY, Girdwood, AK
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2024; seat: front; flight hours: 939.3 total, 335 in this make and model, 542 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 160 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 13 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.43 inHg
- Observed at: PANC, 30 nm away
- METAR: PANC 152053Z 18013G25KT 10SM FEW060 SCT075 13/06 A2943 RMK AO2 PK WND 19026/2001 SLP968 T01330061 53001

## 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 20240915016579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240915016579A), Sep 15, 2024: Piper PA-18-150, Eagle River, AK, Substantial damage. Was practicing off field landings. After the low approach and visual inspection of the field 5 full stop landings with back taxis to the north end of the strip…

## Other investigations on N2466H (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 CHI81FER03](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FER03), Oct 26, 1980: Piper PA-18 (N2466H), Brainerd, MN, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 12, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195180. 10.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 8.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17793546&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC24LA099%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17793430&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.