No fatalities

PIPER PA-18-150 accident at Bethel, AK, 9 Apr 2025

Bethel, AK, United States

On April 9, 2025, a PIPER PA-18-150 operated by ELIJAH AIR LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Bethel, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane was not attaining sufficient airspeed for takeoff and subsequently departed the end of the lake and collided with terrain. 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

Probable cause

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane was not attaining sufficient airspeed for takeoff and subsequently departed the end of the lake and collided with terrain.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Capability exceededPilotEffect on operation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 9 Apr 2025 PIPER PA-18-150 accident near Bethel, AK?

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane was not attaining sufficient airspeed for takeoff and subsequently departed the end of the lake and collided with terrain.

Were there any fatalities in the 9 Apr 2025 PIPER PA-18-150 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 9 Apr 2025 involved a PIPER PA-18-150, operated by ELIJAH AIR LLC, at Bethel, AK.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff when the airplane was not attaining sufficient airspeed for takeoff and subsequently departed the end of the lake and collided with terrain.