Piper PA-18 accident near Kwethluk, Alaska, September 2, 1987
On September 2, 1987 at about 9:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N7233K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kwethluk, Alaska. It was an aerial observation 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
- September 2, 1987 · about 9:05 pm local time
- Place
- Kwethluk, Alaska · 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
- N7233K · registry record · serial 18-125
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING A SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION FOR A MISSING AIRCRAFT WHEN HE NOTICED THAT HIS AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS NOT WORKING. HE LANDED ON A LAKE IN GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DURING THE ENSUING TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE WATER, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER. PILOT STATED HE WOULD NOT HAVE FLOWN IN WIND CONDITIONS EXCEPT THAT THE MISSION WAS TO HELP SEARCH FOR FELLOW PILOT.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 479 hours in all; 479 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 418 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 15, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,760 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 52°F (11°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.