# NTSB ANC25LA033: Piper PA-18-150, N57617, Bethel, AK, April 9, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 9, 2025, 10:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Bethel, AK · Lake
- Coordinates: 60.80135, -161.823
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.8013&lon=-161.8230&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- 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): 200006
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA033
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200006/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200006
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA033

## Probable cause

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane was not attaining sufficient airspeed for takeoff and subsequently departed the end of the lake and collided with terrain.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/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-18-150, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: snow/slush/ice covered surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 219 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was departing a frozen lake in his tundra tire, tailwheel-equipped airplane. The surface of the lake was “polished” smooth by wind and there was a 6 knot, 90-degree crosswind. During takeoff, the tail took longer than normal to become airborne, the pilot was planning to abort the takeoff when the tail began to lift off the ground. He continued the takeoff, but it became apparent to the pilot that the airplane would not get airborne in time. He aborted the takeoff but the airplane had insufficient braking resulting in the airplane sliding off the lake into vegetation along the shore. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57617](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57617), registered now, S/N 18-7709125, built 1977 (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: 18-7709125
- Year built: 1977
- Airframe hours: 4978.6
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Registered owner: Elijah Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 21, 2025, 10.6 hours before
- Destination: PVT, Kotlik, AK
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 27, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 11,000 total, 800 in this make and model, 9,800 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,100 ft overcast
- Temperature: 9 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observed at: PABE, 1 nm away
- METAR: PABE 091853Z 17007KT 10SM OVC021 M13/M14 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP123 T11281144

## 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 20250409003539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250409003539A), Apr 9, 2025: Piper PA-18-150, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted takeoff with quartering tailwind on a slick iced over lake, aborted takeoff, unable to stop and struck the FAR bank.

## Other investigations on N57617 (4)

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 ANC96LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA094), Jul 3, 1996: Piper PA-18 (N57617), Cantwell, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions. A factor in the accident was the crosswind.
- [NTSB ANC84LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA161), Sep 1, 1984: Piper PA-18-150 (N57617), Slana, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC82DAG19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC82DAG19), Apr 30, 1982: Piper PA-18-150 (N57617), Birchwood, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC81DAG61](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAG61), Jul 24, 1981: Piper PA-18 (N57617), Kenai, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200006. 4.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18636510&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA033%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18636414&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA033%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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