On June 20, 2008, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N91256, sustained substantial damage when it collided with an embankment and trees during an aborted landing at a remote gravel bar, about 16.5 miles west-northwest of Willow, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on June 24, the pilot reported that he was landing toward the east on a gravel bar in the area of Neil Lake. He said that he first made a low pass over the landing area, and when he added power to climb, the engine responded without hesitation. On his next approach to the gravel bar, he said that he touched down, but was not satisfied with his placement, and decided to abort the landing. He added engine power to takeoff, but the engine sputtered. The airplane skipped across an area of water and collided with an embankment and trees, about 400 feet from the initial aborted landing spot. The airplane nosed over, and received structural damage to the wings.

The airplane and engine were not examined by NTSB or FAA personnel.