Piper PA-18-150 accident near Mccarthy, Alaska, July 19, 1985
On July 19, 1985 at about 5:45 am local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N1109A, was destroyed in an accident near Mccarthy, Alaska (No Name airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 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
- July 19, 1985 · about 5:45 am local time
- Place
- Mccarthy, Alaska · No Name · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N1109A · registry record · serial 18-701
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS DEPARTING FROM A 600 FOOT LONG AIRSTRIP AT A 3400 FOOT FIELD ELEVATION. THE TAKEOFF RUN WAS DOWNSLOPE AND THE PILOT HAD TO PULL THE AIRPLANE OFF THE GROUND BY USE OF THE CONTROL STICK AND THE APPLICATION OF FULL FLAPS, THE 40 DEGREE POSITION. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF BUT WOULD NOT CLIMB. THE PILOT HAD TO MANEUVER AROUND A HILL AND HE LOWERED THE NOSE AND REDUCED THE FLAPS TO 20 DEGREES IN AN EFFORD TO GAIN AIRSPEED. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO DESCEND AND FLEW INTO THE GROUND WHEREUPON IT NOSED OVER AND BURNED.
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
- Flight time: 282 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 180 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,186 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 600 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.