Piper J3C-75 accident near Soldotna, Alaska, May 11, 1982
On May 11, 1982 at about 3:50 am local time, a Piper J3C-75, registered N27006, was substantially damaged in an accident near Soldotna, 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
- May 11, 1982 · about 3:50 am local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J3C-75 · all J3C-75s on the register
- Registration
- N27006 · registry record · serial 4293
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE EXECUTING DEPARTURE STALLS THE ELEVATOR LOCKED IN THE FULL UP POSITION. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN CONTROL, IT WAS FOUND THAT PARTIAL CONTROL WAS POSSIBLE IN A POWER OFF DESCENDING TURN. THIS ATTITUDE WAS MAINTAINED UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO GROUND CONTACT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS TRANSITIONED TO A LEVEL ATTITUDE BEFORE COLLIDING WITH TREES. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT DISCOVERED A PAIR OF PLIERS WHICH HAD SLID INTO THE ELEVATOR BELLCRANK.
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: 476 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 378 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,500 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A & C 75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kenai AK at 7:00 pm
- Destination: Return
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 104°F (40°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.