Piper PA-18 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, July 31, 1987
On July 31, 1987 at about 5:22 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N5416H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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 31, 1987 · about 5:22 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N5416H · no longer on the register · serial 18-7
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTORS INTENDED TO PRACTICE LANDINGS IN A TAIL WHEEL AIRPLANE. SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST TAKE OFF, THE PIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT AND CRASHED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. A POST-CRASH INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR HEAT AIR DEFLECTOR VALVE IN THE CARBURETOR AIR BOX HAD DISENGAGED FROM ITS MOUNTING DUE TO CORROSION, AND HAD BLOCKED OFF ALL AIR TO THE CARBURETOR CAUSING THE ENGINE TO QUIT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,650 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 1,500 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1987; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:27 pm from MRI, 1 miles away
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.
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.