Piper PA-18 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, September 30, 1984
On September 30, 1984 at about 5:15 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N1260A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska (Jackfish Landing airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 30, 1984 · about 5:15 am local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Jackfish Landing
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N1260A · no longer on the register · serial 18-1055
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACFT CONTACTED PINE TREES WHILE TURNING BASE TO FINAL APCH TO LAND. PLT STATED ALL HE REMEMBERS IS TRYING TO ACTIVATE THE PLT CONTROLLED RWY LIGHTS BUT NEVER SEEING THEM ILLUMINATE. ANOTHER PLT WHO LANDED JUST PRIOR TO N1260A'S ATTEMPT STATED THE AIRSTRIP WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY COVERED BYA FOG BANK WHICH EXTENDED NORTHWARD. HE CONTINUED TO STATE, THE FOG WAS FROM THE GROUND EXTENDING TO 500 FT AGL AND THE PLT CONTROLLED LIGHTING WAS OPERABLE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,692 hours in all; 278 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 8, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,725 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z15 Chugiak AK at 11:45 pm
- Destination: Wasilla AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 1,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.
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.