Piper J-5 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, August 18, 1983
On August 18, 1983 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper J-5, registered N28144, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Metro airport). It was a personal 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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 1983 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Metro · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J-5 · all J-5s on the register
- Registration
- N28144 · registry record · serial 5-117
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT GROUND LOOPED DURING LANDING AND COLLIDED WITH TWO PARKED ACFT. THE PILOT LANDED ON RWY 24 AT FAIRBANKS AND DURING THE LANDING HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT LEFT THE RWY AND COLLIDED WITH TWO PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED ACFT. THE PARKED ACFT, N7830 AND N68564, RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE.
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: 76 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 38 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,538 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 25, 1983; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,220 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAQ Palmer AK at 4:10 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 24, 4,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC83LA148.