Piper PA-18-160 accident near Glennallen, Alaska, August 22, 2003
On August 22, 2003 at about 3:30 am local time, a Piper PA-18-160, registered N2608S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glennallen, Alaska (Tazlina airport). It was a personal 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 failure to maintain directional control during landing, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop, and collapse of the main landing gear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2003 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Glennallen, Alaska · Tazlina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-160 · all PA-18-160s on the register
- Registration
- N2608S · no longer on the register · serial 18-7909165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial certificated pilot reported that he was landing a tailwheel and tundra tire equipped airplane on a gravel airstrip in calm wind conditions. Shortly after touchdown, the airplane swerved to the right, and the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The left main landing gear subsequently collapsed, and the left wing struck the ground, damaging the rear spar. The pilot said he was unaware of any preaccident mechanical problems with 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 961 hours in all; 473 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 898 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 12, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,408 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2002; 60 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: Hallett River AK at 9:15 pm
- Destination: Z14 Glennallenn AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 900 ft by 42 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.
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.