Aeronca 15AC accident near Dillingham, Alaska, July 11, 1987
On July 11, 1987 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Aeronca 15AC, registered N1304H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dillingham, Alaska (Shannon'S Pond 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
- July 11, 1987 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dillingham, Alaska · Shannon'S Pond · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aeronca 15AC · all 15ACs on the register
- Registration
- N1304H · registry record · serial 15AC330
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT LOST PARTIAL POWER DURING THE TAKE OFF RUN DUE TO WATER BEING INGESTED INTO THE ENGINE AIR FILTER AS HE MADE HIS WATER TAKEOFF. HE ELECTED TO CONTINUE WITH THE TAKEOFF ATTEMPT AND STRUCK THE SHORELINE PRIOR TO BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, BUT NEITHER THE PILOT NOR HIS PASSENGER WERE INJURED. HE SAID THAT HE LAST TOOK FORMALIZED FLIGHT INSTRUCTION IN 1965.
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: student
- Flight time: 1,341 hours in all; 1,071 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AIA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 023 Dillingham AK at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from DLG, 3 miles away
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.