Piper PA-28 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, January 16, 1988
On January 16, 1988 at about 4:23 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N9103W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (O'Malley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 1988 · about 4:23 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · O'Malley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N9103W · registry record · serial 2810716
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD SELECTED THE LEFT AUXILIARY FUEL TANK FOR TAKEOFF. DURING THE CLIMBOUT THE ENGINE QUIT; THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED SHORT OF A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE RAN THE LEFT AUXILIARY FUEL TANK DRY AND DID NOT SELECT ANOTHER FUEL TANK WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE AFTER THE ENG QUIT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,033 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,564 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1988; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 4:15 pm
- Destination: HOM Homer AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 34, 1,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC88LA025.