Piper PA-18-150 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, September 3, 2022
On September 3, 2022 at about 5:00 am local time, a 1974 Piper PA-18-150, registered N119CC, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Fairbanks, Alaska (Remote Airstrip 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 failure to maintain centerline in dusk light conditions which resulted in impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2022 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Remote Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150, built 1974 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N119CC · registry record · serial 18-7409126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during takeoff, in dusk light conditions he was not able to see the side tree line of the runway. The airplane traveled off center line of the runway, and subsequently impacted trees and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, wing lift struts, vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Low light › Effect on personnel
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › Visual function › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 8,500 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 21, 2021
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 2021; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 35 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PAFA Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 140° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.25 inHg
- Observation at 9:40 pm from PAEI, 31 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAEI 030540Z AUTO 14008KT 10SM SCT055 OVC080 11/08 A2925 RMK AO2 SLP910 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 20, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 ANC22LA070.