Piper PA-22-160 accident near Kodiak, Alaska, May 9, 1988
On May 9, 1988 at about 11:24 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N8842D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kodiak, Alaska (Kodiak Seaplane airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 9, 1988 · about 11:24 pm local time
- Place
- Kodiak, Alaska · Kodiak Seaplane · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N8842D · registry record · serial 226012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN HE LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER ON ITS BACK AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE LAKE. THE PLT HAD BEEN ISSUED A SPECIAL VFR CLEARANCE BY KODIAK TOWER DUE TO EXISTING WX CONDITIONS. THE PLT SAID THE WATER WAS FLAT CALM AND IT TOOK LONGER TO GET AIRBORNE. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PLT SAID HE LOWERED THE NOSE TO GAIN AIRPSEED BUT HIT THE WATER AND LOST MOMENTUM. WHILE DELIBERATING ABOUT CONTINUING THE TAKEOFF THE ACFT HIT THE SHORE LINE AND NOSED OVER.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 563 hours in all; 247 in this make and model; 247 in the last 90 days; 110 in the last 30 days; 477 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 1987; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N8842D 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.