Piper PA-22-135 accident near Iowa Ridge, Alaska, September 7, 1987
On September 7, 1987 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N8510C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Iowa Ridge, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 7, 1987 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Iowa Ridge, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N8510C · no longer on the register · serial 221225
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS AWAKENED IN THE NIGHT AT HIS HUNTING CAMP BY STRONG WINDS ESTIMATED AT 70 - 80 MPH. HIS AIRPLANE CAME LOOSE AT ITS TIE-DOWN AND HE ELECTED TO TRY AND FLY IT TO A SAFER LOCATION. SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND CRASHED. HE ESTIMATED THE TURBULENCE LEVEL AS 'EXTREME'.
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: 216 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 DZ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Iowa Ridge AK at 7:00 am
- Destination: 11AK Delta Junction AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 180° at 70 knots, gusting 80
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 39°F (4°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.
Other NTSB records under N8510C 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.