Piper PA-18 accident near Port Heiden, Alaska, October 20, 1984
On October 20, 1984, a Piper PA-18, registered N4313Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Heiden, Alaska (Port Heiden airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 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
- October 20, 1984
- Place
- Port Heiden, Alaska · Port Heiden · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N4313Y · registry record · serial 18-7833
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO A STATE POLICE REPORT, THE PLT ASSAULTED HIS WIFE, THEN LOADED HIS TWO CHILDREN INTO THE ACFT AND FLEW TO A REFUELING AREA. HE REFUELED THE ACFT, THEN TOOKOFF & CRASHED APRX 1 MILE NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE RWY. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT AFTER THE ACFT LIFTED OFF THE RWY, IT ROSE SHARPLY AND APPEARED TO ALMOST STALL, THEN IT REGAINED A LEVEL FLT ATTITUDE AT ABOUT 100 TO 150 FT AGL BEFORE IT DISAPPEARED FROM HIS VIEW. SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE ACFT CRASHED. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.128%.
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: 3,100 hours in all; 3,100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,408 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 5, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTH Port Heiden AK at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,609 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.