# NTSB ANC26LA028: Piper PA-18-150, N4136E, Palmer, AK, April 22, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: April 22, 2026, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK · Mouth of Friday Creek
- Coordinates: 61.715167, -149.10733
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.7152&lon=-149.1073&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 15, 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): 202871
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202871/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202871
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA028

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a ground loop.

## 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-18-150, 98 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7101828), [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-18-150, 160 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 83 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); 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 while conducting a touch and go landing on a gravel bar in a tailwheel equipped airplane, a strong gust of wind lifted the left wing. The airplane subsequently rolled to the left and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, rudder and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4136E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4136E), registered now, S/N 18-7809082, built 1978 (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: 18-7809082
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 2738.26
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 19, 2025
- Departed: 89AK, Wasilla, AK
- Airport: NONE, Gravel river bar
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 5, 2025; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 23,071 total, 26 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 17 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: PAAQ, 18 nm away
- METAR: SPECI PAAQ 221900Z 12017G32KT 10SM OVC060 06/M03 A3007 RMK AO2 PK WND 12032/1854 WSHFT 1840 T00611028 $

## 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 20260422005599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260422005599A), Apr 22, 2026: Piper PA-18-150, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. The aircraft and crew departed 89AK at 1030 AK LCL time for sightseeing along the knik river. Current paaq ATIS was reporting 8 knots wind. The pilot conducted…

## Other investigations on N4136E (1)

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 ANC87LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC87LA144), Sep 6, 1987: Piper PA-18 (N4136E), Tanana, AK, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202871. 5.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20380370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC26LA028%206120%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 551 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20378197&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC26LA028%20investigative%20photograph-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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