Piper PA 18-135 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, September 5, 2014
On September 5, 2014 at about 5:10 am local time, a 1953 Piper PA 18-135, registered N2158A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Fairbanks, Alaska (Lakloey Air Park airport). 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 inability to maintain directional control of the airplane resulting in a runway excursion and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2014 · about 5:10 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Lakloey Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18-135 NO SERIES, built 1953 · all PA 18-135s on the register
- Registration
- N2158A · registry record · serial 18-1873
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was returning from a cross-country flight in a tail wheel equipped airplane. He reported a slight headwind and a stable approach until flare, then a crosswind lifted the left wing and the aircraft began exiting the runway environment. Attempts to regain directional control with rudder, aileron, and power were ineffective resulting in a collision with trees. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 397 hours in all; 305 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 313 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 5, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,940 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 21, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 2,447 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Fairbanks AK
- Destination: AK22 Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 4,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 am from PAFB, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.