# NTSB ANC25LA066: Piper PA-18-135, N55PT, Chenega, AK, June 28, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 28, 2025, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Chenega, AK
- Coordinates: 60.050046, -147.90822
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.0500&lon=-147.9082&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 9, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA - FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200478
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA066
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200478/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200478
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA066

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting and variable wind conditions.

## Findings

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

- [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [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-18-135, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101820), [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-18-135, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-135, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7101820), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, during landing, the airplane encountered a wind shift. He subsequently lost directional control, and the airplane’s left wing struck a tree. The airplane then veered off the intended landing area and impacted several additional trees, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the 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: [N55PT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55PT), registered now, S/N 18-2675, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-135
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-2675
- Year built: 1953
- Airframe hours: 2093.88
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 26, 2024, 479 hours before
- Departed: SWD, Seward, AK
- Destination: Same as departure

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 759 total, 416 in this make and model, 23 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: PFCB
- METAR: PFCB 281930Z AUTO 36006KT 10SM -DZ SCT014 BKN034 OVC040 14/13 A2990 RMK AO2 T01400132

## 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 20250628008029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250628008029A), Jun 28, 2025: Piper PA-18-135, Seward, AK, Substantial damage. During landing the wind changed directions causing the left-wing tip to dip, pushing the aircraft towards the trees on the side of the runway. Left wing tip…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200478. 10.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 9.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19034723&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA066%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 708 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19036105&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA066%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.

---
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.