Piper PA-14 accident near Talkeetna, Alaska, June 24, 1982
On June 24, 1982 at about 6:00 am local time, a Piper PA-14, registered N5173H, was destroyed in an accident near Talkeetna, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- June 24, 1982 · about 6:00 am local time
- Place
- Talkeetna, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed, 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-14 · all PA-14s on the register
- Registration
- N5173H · no longer on the register · serial 14-186
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STEP TAXIED THE FLOAT PLANE TO THE NORTH END OF NEIL LAKE IN PREPARATION FOR A SOUTH TAKEOFF. APPROACHING THE NORTH SHORE, A LEFT STEP TURN WAS INITIATED TO POSTION THE AIRCRAFT TO THE SOUTH FOR A TAKEOFF. DURING THE TURN, WHILE STILL ON A NORTHERLY HEADING, THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF THE WATER. DURING AN ATTEMPT TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF, THE RIGHT FLOAT HIT THE TOPS OF TWO TREES, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE CRASHED AND BEGAN BURNING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 300 LBS OVER THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT.
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 sea; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 137 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 115 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,150 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 140 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A3B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Talkeetna AK at 9:59 pm
- Destination: ANK Lake Hood AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 100 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 | 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.