Piper PA-18-150 N3797Z

Summary

On 14 September 2025 at about 19:30 local time, a Piper PA-18-150 registered N3797Z was involved in an accident near St Mary's, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 September 2025 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

St Mary's, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

62.3269, -163.1917

Aircraft

Piper PA-18-150

Registration

N3797Z

Category

Airplane

Year built

1960

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC25LA120

Nobody was injured.

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.