Piper PA-18 accident near Sparrevohn, Alaska, September 17, 2003
On September 17, 2003 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N18PX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sparrevohn, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, which resulted in a collision with terrain during takeoff/initial climb. Factors contributing to the accident were mountainous/hilly terrain, the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions, and an unfavorable wind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 2003 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sparrevohn, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N18PX · registry record · serial 187570
- 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 ridgeline airstrip near a hunting camp. He said he planned to depart northbound, slightly uphill, toward the top of the ridge. The takeoff area was tundra covered, about 900 feet long, and over 1,000 feet wide. The camp was equipped with a windsock, indicating a wind from the north about 25 knots. The pilot reported that just after liftoff, he cleared the top of the ridge, and the airplane's left wing was lifted by the wind. He attempted to counter the resulting right roll with aileron and rudder, but was unable to prevent the airplane from colliding with the ground. The airplane received damage to the landing gear, belly pod, fuselage, and left wing.
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: 1,995 hours in all; 190 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 1,950 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 31, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,661 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 2003; 25 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: Sparrevohn AK at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 25 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°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 N18PX the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC03LA118.