Piper PA-20 accident near Medfra, Alaska, June 29, 1988
On June 29, 1988 at about 7:00 am local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N7074K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Medfra, Alaska (Medfra airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1988 · about 7:00 am local time · cases in 1988
- Place
- Medfra, Alaska · Medfra · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N7074K · registry record · serial 20181
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 18 YEAR-OLD 100 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT INITIALLY REPORTED THAT THE LEFT WING TIP OF THE PIPER PA-20 HE WAS PILOTING STRUCK BRUSH NEXT TO THE TURF RUNWAY DURING THE LANDING FLARE. HE SAID THAT THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT, OFF THE RUNWAY AND INTO THE DENSE BRUSH. HE LATER DECLARED ON THE ACCIDENT FORM THAT HE SUBMITTED TO THE NTSB THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN HE WAS TAXIING TO THE TIE DOWN AREA AFTER LANDING, WHEN THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL STRUCK A CLUMP OF WILLOWS AND SWUNG THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT AND INTO THE BRUSH.
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: 102 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 62 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1987; 104 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MCG Mcgrath AK at 1:30 am
- Destination: MDR Medfra AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 2, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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 N7074K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7074K on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-20 Pacer 323 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B 179 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- MC Grath Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N7074K 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC88LA075.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.