# NTSB ANC25LA120: Piper PA-18-150, N3797Z, St Mary's, AK, September 14, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 14, 2025, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: St Mary's, AK · remote
- Coordinates: 62.326934, -163.19165
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3269&lon=-163.1917&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- 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): 201876
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC25LA120
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201876/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201876
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA120

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper decision to takeoff with a tailwind, from a short off-airport strip, which degraded the climb performance of the airplane and led to impact with trees at the end of the strip.

## Findings

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

- [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)
- [Aircraft capability: takeoff distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061025/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he attempted to depart from a 200 yard long, remote airstrip, downhill with a tailwind in a tailwheel equipped airplane. The airplane lifted off the ground but impacted alders at the end of the strip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3797Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3797Z), registered now, S/N 18-7492 (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 O-360-A2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a2a) (registry code 42261, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-7492
- Year built: 1960
- Airframe hours: 7227
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 25, 2025, 64 hours before
- Equipment: ADS-B, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 6, 2025; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,105 total, 1,564 in this make and model, 2,071 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: PASM, 16 nm away
- METAR: METAR PASM 141956Z AUTO 36004KT 10SM FEW027 04/M01 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP166 T00441006=

## 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 20250914017739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250914017739A), Sep 14, 2025: Piper PA-18-150, St. Mary'S, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot flew to the location approximately 1/2 mile from the hunting camp to harvest moose meat. He loaded 1 hind quarter and 1 front should into the…

## Other investigations on N3797Z (3)

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 GAA17CA569](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA569), Sep 25, 2017: Piper PA 18 (N3797Z), Beluga, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain pitch control due to an encounter with a tailwind gust after the airplane had stopped, which resulted in a nose-over.
- [NTSB ANC10CA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC10CA008), Nov 14, 2009: Piper PA-18-150 (N3797Z), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to land and attempt to takeoff from an unsuitable off-airport site.
- [NTSB ANC69D0066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC69D0066), Sep 29, 1968: Piper PA-18 (N3797Z), Whittier, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201876. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19500637&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA120%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19501148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC25LA120%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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