Piper PA-20 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 5, 1984
On September 5, 1984 at about 3:28 am local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N3500A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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 5, 1984 · about 3:28 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N3500A · registry record · serial 22-1772
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT RAN OFF THE RWY DURING LANDING. THE PLT SAID HE LOST CONTROL OF THE ACFT AND WENT ON THE GRASS FOR ABOUT 40 FT.THE REAR SEAT HAD BEEN REMOVED FOR CARGO. A 6 YEAR OLD BOY IN THE BACK OF THE ACFT WAS SEATED ON TOP OF ROPE AND CANS OFGAS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT SAID HE DID NOT THINK THAT A SEAT WAS NECESSARY FOR, 'WE FLY LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME, THIS IS ALASKA.'
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: 290 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 243 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,845 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z22 Willow AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,469 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.