Piper PA-18A accident near W. Clam Gulch, Alaska, March 30, 1983
On March 30, 1983 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A, registered N8081C, was substantially damaged in an accident near W. Clam Gulch, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- March 30, 1983 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- W. Clam Gulch, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A · all PA-18As on the register
- Registration
- N8081C · registry record · serial 18-3485
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT STALLED AND CRASHED DURING AN APPROACH TO LAND IN A WILDERNESS AREA. ACCORDING TO THE PLT HE WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH LANDING NEAR A WOLVERINE HE WANTED TO SHOOT. HIS APPROACH WAS TOO HIGH SO HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE PUT DOWN FULL FLAPS AND STARTED A TURN. THE PLT THOUGHT HE HIT A DOWNDRAFT AS THE ACFT STALLED. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO RECOVER BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND. HE BELIEVES THAT HIS SHOULDER HARNESS SAVED HIM FROM SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURY.
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: 497 hours in all; 468 in this make and model; 82 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 462 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,866 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 1983; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z38 Anchorage AK
- Destination: Remote Area AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°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.