Piper J-3 accident near Soldotna, Alaska, July 16, 1983
On July 16, 1983 at about 5:00 am local time, a Piper J-3, registered N88327, 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
- July 16, 1983 · about 5:00 am local time
- Place
- Soldotna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-3 · all J-3s on the register
- Registration
- N88327 · registry record · serial 15945
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER IN SOFT DIRT DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER AN ENGINE FAILURE. THIS ENGINE HAD JUST BEEN OVERHAULED AND WAS ON ITS FIRST FLIGHT. THE ENGINE QUIT AT 1200 FT, DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB. THE PROP STOPPED ROTATING AND ASSUMED A HORIZONTAL POSITION. IT WAS FOUND DURING ENGINE TEARDOWN THAT THE ENGINE HAD AN OUT OF ROUND CYLINDER. THE BOTTOM OF #1 CYLINDER WAS SCORED IN A MANNER THAT COINCIDED WITH SCORING ON THE PISTON SKIRT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 380 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,414 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 25, 1982; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N88327 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.