# NTSB ANC25LA090: Piper PA-18-150, N4387Z, Willow, AK, August 18, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 17, 2025, 16:58 local (Aug 18, 2025, 00:58 UTC) - Place: Willow, AK - Coordinates: 61.754613, -150.0514 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7546&lon=-150.0514&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 January 9, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA/FSDO, AKST - NTSB case key (mKey): 200832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200832/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200832 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA090 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control after a rejected takeoff, which resulted in a noseover. ## 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); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/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: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was attempting to depart from an off-airport remote airstrip in a tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered an area of rough and uneven terrain as the tail lifted off the ground, and as the airplane became airborne, he applied flaps and felt the airplane slow. The airplane descended and bounced on the airstrip. He felt he did not have sufficient airspeed for takeoff and aborted the takeoff. He reduced power and applied heavy braking, and the airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4387Z (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8709 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 6563 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Public use - Operator: State Of Alaska - Registered owner: State Of Alaska - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 11, 2025 - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,084 total, 878 in this make and model, 974 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: ATK, 32 nm away - METAR: PATK 180053Z 21005KT 10SM CLR 22/07 A2979 RMK AO2 SLP090 T02220072 $ ## 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 20250817013399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250817013399A), Aug 17, 2025: Piper PA-18-150, Skwentna, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that he was taking off from a remote airstrip. Pilot taxied to the east end of the airstrip. Pilot planned to take off to the west. Pilot stated… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200832. 8.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 7.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19445880&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 376 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19445788&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photots-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.