Accident Overview
On August 8, 2015, at approximately 1900 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, registration N9265D, experienced a loss of control and subsequently collided with terrain. The accident occurred about 45 miles west of Talkeetna, Alaska. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged, affecting both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage.
Flight Details
The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no Federal Aviation Administration flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, he was returning home after dropping off hunters at a remote hunting camp.
Pilot Account
The pilot stated that during the flight, while flying at about 500 feet above ground level, he was looking at the north side of Sleeping Lady mountain. His next memory was after the airplane had crashed, at which point he discovered he had a broken leg. He extracted himself from the wreckage, located a satellite phone, and requested assistance.
Rescue and Recovery
Later that evening, a UH-60 helicopter from the Alaska Air National Guard located the accident site. The helicopter crew transported the pilot to a medical facility for treatment. In a submitted NTSB form, the pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. He added that the airplane was not recovered from the accident site.