Piper PA-18 accident near Near Clear, Alaska, September 9, 1982
On September 9, 1982 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N9104D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Near Clear, Alaska (Bush Strip airport). It was a business 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 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 9, 1982 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Near Clear, Alaska · Bush Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N9104D · registry record · serial 18-6483
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER LIFT-OFF THE ACFT BEGAN A RIGHT TURN. HE APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER & LEFT AILERON BUT THE ACFT DID NOT RESPOND. IT CONTINUED TO TURN RIGHT UNTIL IT STRUCK TREES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STRIP. THE PLT THOUGHT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE FLT CONTROL SYSTEM OF THE CAL CENTER CONVERSION. NO MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN ONLY 6 HRS SINCE THE CONVERSION WAS INSTALLED.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 10,000 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- 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: Near Clear AK at 7:00 pm
- Destination: Near Clear AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 1,100 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 140°F (60°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.