Piper PA-18A accident near Akhiok, Alaska, October 26, 2000
On October 26, 2000 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A, registered N8162C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Akhiok, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, and inadequate evaluation of weather conditions. Factors in the accident were a tailwind, and a short runway/landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 2000 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Akhiok, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A · all PA-18As on the register
- Registration
- N8162C · no longer on the register · serial 18-3618
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A private certificated pilot was departing a small lake at the conclusion of a deer hunting trip. An Alaska State Trooper/Pilot was flying over the area of the lake, conducting an aerial game patrol. He saw the float-equipped accident airplane taxiing in a southwest direction from the northeast shoreline of the lake. The lake has an hourglass shape, with the narrow portion of the lake located about 1/3 of the way from the southwest end of the lake, and has shallow water at the narrowest point. The wind was blowing from the northeast about 5 to 10 knots, and 4 to 5 inch waves were building against the southwestern shore. The trooper said he expected the airplane to taxi to the southwest, and then depart toward the northeast. When the airplane did not become airborne, the trooper returned to the area of the lake. He saw the airplane resting against the southwest shore, having collided with a small bluff along the shore. The lake was too small for the trooper airplane to land, and search and rescue personnel responded in a helicopter. The lake was measured by GPS equipment and found to be 760 feet long. An on-scene examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact malfunction of the airplane.
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: 350 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 260 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,884 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 2000; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,760 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ADQ Kodiak AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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 N8162C 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.