Wsk PZL-M-18 accident near Palmer, Alaska, May 16, 1986
On May 16, 1986 at about 9:09 pm local time, a Wsk PZL-M-18, registered N27301, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmer, Alaska (Palmer airport). It was a public-use 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
- May 16, 1986 · about 9:09 pm local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · Palmer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wsk PZL-M-18
- Registration
- N27301 · no longer on the register · serial 1Z008-04
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRCRAFT EXECUTED STEEP LEFT 180 DEGREE TURN ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE RUNWAY JUST AFTER TAKEOFF. PILOT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED. TURBULENCE AND WINDSHEAR HAD BEEN REPORTED. WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION WAS VARIABLE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,027 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 233 in the last 90 days; 1,847 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 179 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1986; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,125 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pzl-Kalisz ASZ621RM18 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: State Of Alaska
The flight
- Departed from: PAQ Palmer AK at 4:08 pm
- Runway 33, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 15 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PAQ
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.
Other NTSB records under N27301 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.