Piper PA-18 accident near Kenai, Alaska, April 18, 1985
On April 18, 1985 at about 3:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N91003, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenai, Alaska (Kenai 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).
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
- April 18, 1985 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · Kenai · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N91003 · no longer on the register · serial 18-8109059
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS OCCUPIED BY THE OWNER/PLT, A 42 YR OLD STUDENT PLT SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT, AND A 41 YR OLD PRIVATE PLT, A CAREER POLICE OFFICER OF THE ANCHORAGE POLICE FORCE, WHO WAS SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT OF THIS 2 SEAT ACFT. THE SEATS WERE IN A TANDEN ARRANGEMENT. THE ACFT WAS PILOTED BY THE FRONT SEAT OWNER, BUT WAS TECHANICALLY UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE BACK SEAT PLT BY VIRTUE OF HIS RATING. ALSO BY DEFINITION THE PRIVATE (REAR SEAT) PLT IS CONSIDERED PIC TO DEFER NECESSITY FOR FAA ACTION AGAINST THE STUDENT PLT/OWNER FOR CARRYING PASS'G AGAINST REGULATION. REPORTEDLY THE ACFT SWERVED & DRAGGED A WING WHILE TAXIING IN AFTER LANDING. THE PIC REPORTEDLY HAS 210 FLT HRS OF WHICH TWO (2) WERE CREDITED TO THE TYPE OF ACFT INVOLVED IN THIS ACC. THE PIC, FAILED TO PROPERLY COMPLETE HIS MEDICAL INFORMATION, HIS BIENNIAL FLT REV STATUS, AND THE NTSB FORM 6120.1 (ACC REPORT). HE DID NOT RESPOND TO NUMEROUS REQUESTS FOR FURTHER INFO ABOUT THE ACC. THE STUDENT PLTS FORM SIMPLY STATED: SLIGHT X-WIND ON FINAL, GROUNDLOOPED AFTER TD, CAUGHT WING.
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: 210 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 610 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 2:30 pm
- Destination: ENA Kenai AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 7,575 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from ENA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N91003 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.