Piper PA-18 accident near Quinhagak, Alaska, June 23, 2000
On June 23, 2000, a Piper PA-18, registered N7059, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quinhagak, Alaska (Quinhagak Seaplane airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions during takeoff. Factors associated with the accident were the sudden windshift from a crosswind to a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 23, 2000
- Place
- Quinhagak, Alaska · Quinhagak Seaplane · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N7059 · registry record · serial 18-8043
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported he was attempting to depart to the northeast against the river current. The wind varied from 270 degrees to 320 degrees at 15 knots. He indicated that as the airplane reached flying speed, the wind shifted to a tailwind, and the airplane did not climb. The pilot stated he was unable to turn the airplane to follow the river, both floats struck the riverbank, and the airplane came to rest on the adjacent airport runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both float attach fittings, and the fuselage.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,684 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2000; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAQH at 7:45 pm
- Destination: KSM Saint Mary'S AK
- Runway 4, 5,000 ft by 500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N7059 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.