Piper PA-18 accident near Mcgrath, Alaska, September 5, 1987
On September 5, 1987 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N4191Z, was destroyed in an accident near Mcgrath, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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 5, 1987 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mcgrath, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N4191Z · no longer on the register · serial 8613
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A LOCAL HUNTING GUIDE CRASHED HIS AIRPLANE IN A REMOTE MOUNTAIN PASS IN CENTRAL ALASKA. ANOTHER GUIDE WHO OVERFLEW THE CRASH SITE SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT SAW THE AIRPLANE BURNING, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LAND DUE TO STRONG WINDS, SEVERE TURBULENCE AND STRONG DOWNDRAFTS. THE PRIVATE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF THE CRASHED AIRPLANE WAS KILLED AND THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED. EARLIER CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN THE PIC AND A STATE TROOPER REVEALED THAT THE FORMER LIKED TO FLY LOW TO THE GROUND DURING HUNTING SEASON IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM DISTURBING SHEEP ON THE MOUNTAIN SIDES. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AT THE ACCD SITE INDICATED THAT A WINGTIP INITIALLY STRUCK THE GROUND FOLLOWED BY THE ACFT CARTWHEELING.
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
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,291 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1987; 97 hours since
- 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: Purkeypile Mine AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 40 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.