Piper PA-18 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, September 18, 2008
On September 18, 2008 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N2265A, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fairbanks, Alaska. 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 selection of an unsuitable takeoff area. A Factor contributing to the accident was a short, rough and uneven takeoff site.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 2008 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · 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
- N2265A · registry record · serial 18-1888
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was departing from a 500 foot-long, rough and uneven off-airport site. In the pilot's written statement to the NTSB he stated, in part: "During takeoff from the remote airstrip, [the] aircraft failed to reach flying speed." The pilot indicated that the airplane initially lifted off at the end of the strip, then it mushed into an area of brush-covered terrain at the end of the airstrip. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot noted that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies 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
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Decision related to condition
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Takeoff distance › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 416 hours in all; 415 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 10, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,601.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 10, 2008; 9.6 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: Fairbanks AK at 11:00 am
- Destination: Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.