# NTSB ANC25LA024: Piper PA-18-150, N6999, Palmer, AK, March 2, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 2, 2025, 14:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK · Gravel bar
- Coordinates: 61.5, -148.89
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5000&lon=-148.8900&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- 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): 199842
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199842/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199842
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA024

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an appropriate airspeed during the landing approach, which resulted in exceedance of the critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall, during gusting wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot
- [Info processing/decision: understanding/comprehension](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041515): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot
- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot

## Analysis

The pilot reported that on short final to a remote gravel airstrip, and just prior to touch down, a gust of wind made his approach feel unstable. The pilot attempted to abort the landing, but the wind gust decreased, and the airplane stalled and landed hard. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6999](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6999), registered now, S/N 18-8881, built 1970 (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: 18-8881
- Year built: 1970
- Airframe hours: 12776.9
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 15, 2024, 15 hours before
- Departed: PABV, Chugiak, AK
- Destination: PABV, Chugiak, AK
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; injuries: minor; commercial, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 894.4 total, 119.5 in this make and model, 484.5 as pilot in command, 21.6 in the last 90 days, 7.7 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 18 knots, gusting 31
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Turbulence: Moderate
- Observed at: PAAQ, 9 nm away
- METAR: PAAQ 022253Z 14018G31KT 10SM FEW080 09/M02 A2983 RMK AO2 PK WND 12036/2154 SLP105 T00941022

## 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 20250302005019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250302005019A), Mar 2, 2025: Piper PA-18-150, Butte, AK, Substantial damage. Airman departed pabv 1400 local with pabv AWOS information, headed for a landing strip on a sand bar in the knik river. Weather was calm in birchwood, but…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199842. 6.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18490178&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA024%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18490269&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA024%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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