Piper PA-18 accident near Minto, Alaska, June 3, 2001
On June 3, 2001 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N4468Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minto, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and an excessive descent rate resulting in a hard landing during an aborted takeoff. Factors in the accident were a collision of the airplane's float assembly with an unknown object, and the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2001 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Minto, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N4468Z · no longer on the register · serial 18-8817
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot was departing a lake in a float-equipped airplane. While preparing to depart the lake, the pilot said he unknowingly punctured the left float during a collision with an unknown object. The float partially filled with water. During the takeoff run, the pilot said the airplane became airborne in ground effect, but would not climb. He aborted the takeoff and the airplane settled on the lake and hit hard. The pilot said he did not think the fuselage was significantly damaged. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that a fuselage longeron was bent about 2 inches, adjacent to the left, aft, float attachment point. A mechanic planned to cut the bent portion of the longeron out of the fuselage and install a repair sleeve.
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
- Flight time: 1,083 hours in all; 1,050 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 975 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 24, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,986 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 2001; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Minto AK at 12:00 pm
- Destination: PAFA Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 N4468Z 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.