No fatalities

Piper PA-18-150 ground loop in Whittier, Alaska

Whittier, AK, United States

On July 18, 2012, a PIPER PA-18-150 operated by WILLIAMS MICHAEL J was involved in an aviation accident near Whittier, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot failed to maintain sufficient clearance from brush during the landing, leading to a loss of control. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A Piper aircraft sustained substantial damage after striking brush during a landing on a remote gravel bar.

What happened

On July 18, 2012, a Piper PA-18-150, registration N3764Z, was performing a landing on a remote gravel bar near Whittier, Alaska. During the landing sequence, the right wingtip of the aircraft contacted brush. This contact initiated a ground loop to the right. As the aircraft continued the ground loop, the left wing made contact with the ground, causing substantial damage to the left wing.

There were no injuries resulting from this accident.

Probable cause

The pilot failed to maintain sufficient clearance from brush during the landing, leading to a loss of control.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 18 Jul 2012 PIPER PA-18-150 accident near Whittier, AK?

A Piper aircraft sustained substantial damage after striking brush during a landing on a remote gravel bar.

Were there any fatalities in the 18 Jul 2012 PIPER PA-18-150 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 18 Jul 2012 involved a PIPER PA-18-150, operated by WILLIAMS MICHAEL J, at Whittier, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot failed to maintain sufficient clearance from brush during the landing, leading to a loss of control.