THE DTSB
Pending. Likely unintentional IMC after takeoff in very low visibility conditions.
Key facts
- DateSeptember 17, 2026
- Local time7:50 PM
- LightDay
- WeatherIMC
- Phase of flightInitial Climb
- People on board2
- Fatalities2
- NTSB numberANC26FA106
- NTSB statusUnder investigation
Accident Location
- City, State
- Nabesna, Alaska
- Latitude
- 62.262631
- Longitude
- -141.510606
Aircraft Info
- N Number
- N9128D
- Make
- Piper
- Model
- PA-18
- Category / Class
- Aircraft Single Engine Land
- Amateur Built
- No
Pilot Info
- Pilot in command
- Pitts, Cabot John
- Gender
- Male
- Age
- 42
- Certification
- Commercial Pilot
- IFR rating
- Yes
- Medical
- 2nd Class Medical
- Flight school
- No
- Instructional flight
- No
Analysis
- Weather
- IMC
- Time of day
- Day
- Phase of flight
- Initial Climb
- Pilot error
- Yes
- Pilot incapacitation
- No
- People on board
- 2
- PIC fatality
- 1
- Passenger fatalities
- 1
- Total fatalities
- 2
- NTSB number
- ANC26FA106
- NTSB travel
- Yes
- AQP category
- 4) U- IMC ATO →
Probable Cause
NTSB
None yet (final report not yet published).
Recommendation
THE DTSB
Pending.
NTSB
None issued. NTSB recommendations are rare and usually tied to high-profile accidents.
See the NTSB Recommendation Tracker →