The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB ANC82DA098 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA-18 accident near Near Port Alswo, Alaska, September 23, 1982

On September 23, 1982 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N5907Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Port Alswo, 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 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
September 23, 1982 · about 9:00 pm local time
Place
Near Port Alswo, 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
N5907Y · registry record · serial 18-8414
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS LANDING ON THE TUNDRA AS HE HAD DONE BEFORE. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE STRIP, THE MAIN WHEELS HIT A DIP AND THE PLANE NOSED OVER.

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: 285 hours in all; 285 in this make and model; 285 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: unk

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: Z30 Port Alsworth AK at 1:00 pm
  • Destination: AK
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0, 450 ft by 40 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
  • Sky: not recorded; clear
  • Temperature: 104°F (40°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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 N5907Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

2018-09-30ANC18LA080 · accident near Delta Junction, AK · substantial damage · no injuries
1986-09-05ANC86LA148 · accident near Farewell, AK · substantial damage · no injuries

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.