Piper PA-18-150 accident near Palmer, Alaska, April 17, 1988
On April 17, 1988 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N4177Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palmer, Alaska (Farm Field). It was a personal 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
- April 17, 1988 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Palmer, Alaska · Farm Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4177Z · registry record · serial 18-8355
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND WAS A CERTIFICATED AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC WHO WAS WORKING ON THE AIRPLANE. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE MECHANIC WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT'S BROTHER STATED HE HAD JUST DISEMBARKED FROM THE AIRPLANE AFTER A SHORT FLIGHT. HE WATCHED THE TAKEOFF AND SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF ABRUPTLY AND ALMOST STRUCK A METAL MARKING STAKE. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED BRIEFLY, THEN ENTERED A STEEP RIGHT BANK THEN THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE FELL AND THE AIRPLANE CRASHED.
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: 280 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PAQ
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.