Piper PA-18 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, May 17, 1988
On May 17, 1988, a Piper PA-18, registered N7224K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska (Wasilla airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- May 17, 1988
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Wasilla
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N7224K · registry record · serial 118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE MAKING AN APPROACH TO THE WASILLA AIRPORT, WASILLA, AK, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A SHARP 180 DEGREE TURN TO TRY AND REACH A PAVED STREET ABOUT 3/4 OF A MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CRASHED JUST PRIOR TO REACHING THE ROAD. THE ON-SITE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED ON AN EMPTY FUEL TANK, ALTHOUGH THE OPPOSITE TANK HAD AMPLE FUEL. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PILOT'S CERTIFICATE HAD BEEN SUSPENDED FOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW AND AIRCRAFT ANNUAL INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS STEMMING FROM A 9/87 ACCIDENT.
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: 250 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 210 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Yetna River AK at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Wasilla AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,100 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 28°F (-2°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.
Other NTSB records under N7224K 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.