Piper PA-28-140 accident near Portage Creek, Alaska, May 24, 1982
On May 24, 1982 at about 4:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N55038, was substantially damaged in an accident near Portage Creek, Alaska (Portage Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1982 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- Portage Creek, Alaska · Portage Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N55038 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7325310
- 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 HE ENCOUNTED A DOWNDRAFT AND THE PLANE STALLED AND HIT THE GROUND DURING TAKEOFF. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WITH A BROKEN NOSE GEAR, BENT PROPELLER, BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT, AND A BROKEN STROBE LIGHT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHWEST AT ABOUT 10 KNOTS. ALSO, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE TERRAIN AROUND THE AIRPORT WAS FLAT WITH NO HILLS OR RISING TERRAIN.
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
- Flight time: 451 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 382 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,439 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 393 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AK14 Portage Creek AK at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Dillingham AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 1,900 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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 N55038 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.