NTSB ANC25LA041 — 2025-05-22 · Susitna, Alaska, United States

Current FAA registration · N1364C

Make / Model: PIPER PA-18A 150
Engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES (140 hp)
Seats / Engines: 1 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19620423
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A09462

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N1364C Piper PA-18A 150 None

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s encounter with shifting winds during landing, which resulted in a loss of airspeed and altitude, and subsequent contact with water.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while on landing approach to a remote river sandbar in gusty wind conditions, the headwind rapidly decreased and the airplane lost airspeed and began to descend. The pilot applied full engine power in an attempt to arrest the descent; however, the wheels contacted the water, and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing struts. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

— Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained
— Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained
— Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Sudden wind shift-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_ANC25LA041.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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