Piper PA 18-150 N9265D accident near Talkeetna, Alaska

Probable cause

Impact with terrain during low-level cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was returning home after delivering passengers to a remote hunting camp. He recalled flying about 500 ft above ground level and looking at the north side of a mountain. The next thing that he remembered was waking up with a broken leg and the airplane on the ground. He extracted himself from the wreckage and requested assistance via satellite phone. He had no recollection of the events leading up to the accident.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and empennage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was not recovered from the accident site.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ANC15LA063 for the full record.