# NTSB ANC25LA103: Piper PA-11, N5025H, Lake Louise, AK, September 10, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 10, 2025, 14:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place: Lake Louise, AK
- Coordinates: 62.705, -147.22166 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.7050&lon=-147.2217&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 21, 2026
- 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): 200982
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA103
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200982/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200982
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA103

## Probable cause

The pilot’s encounter with gusting crosswind conditions during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain.

## 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-11, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101102), [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-11, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-11, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7101102), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was departing from a remote airstrip in his tailwheel equipped airplane. He reported that shortly after takeoff, the airplane encountered a strong crosswind, which resulted in the airplane veering to the right. The pilot attempted to maneuver the airplane into the wind, which resulted in a nose high attitude. Concerned with stall conditions, he attempted to level the wings, and lower the nose of the airplane; however, there was not enough altitude to complete the recovery, and the airplane impacted the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5025H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5025H), registered now, S/N 11-905, built 1949 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-11
- Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (registry code 17402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11-905
- Year built: 1949
- Airframe hours: 3174.59
- Engines: Continental O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 2025
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: NONE
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 290 total, 219 in this make and model, 236 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 29.51 inHg
- Observed at: PAGK, 59 nm away
- METAR: PAGK 100953Z AUTO 05007KT 10SM OVC065 09/08 A2951 RMK AO2 RAB25E40 SLP993 P0000 T00890078 TSNO

## 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 20250910015399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250910015399A), Sep 10, 2025: Piper PA-11, Gulkana, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot was taking off from a gravel bar. After takeoff, pilot reached down to retract flaps at 55 mph and approximately 50' AGL. At that time a gust of wind hit…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200982. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19522394&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20ANC25LA103_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19333227&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA103%20Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf
- Wreckage release (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19972107&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20release_Redacted-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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