Piper PA-22 and Piper PA-18 accident near North Pole, Alaska, July 12, 1988
On July 12, 1988 at about 2:00 am local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-22 (N2747P) and Piper PA-18 (N9102D), were involved in the same accident near North Pole, Alaska (Bradley Sky Ranch airport). 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1988 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- North Pole, Alaska · Bradley Sky Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N2747P · registry record · serial 22-3054
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N9102D · registry record · serial 18-6480
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-22 final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THAT ACFT #1 (N2747P,A PIPER PA-22), FLEW A RIGHT DOWNWIND ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND THEN MADE A STEEP DESCENDING TURN TOWARD THE RUNWAY. ACFT #1 LANDED AND STRUCK ACFT #2 (N9102D, A PIPER PA-18) WHILE BOTH WERE ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF ACFT #2 SAID HE DID NOT SEE OR HEAR ANY OTHER AIRPLANES IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN.DURING THE LANDING ROLL, HIS RIGHT WING DIPPED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY ACFT #1. ACFT #2 THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH TREES.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-18 final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES STATED THAT ACFT #1 (N2747P,A PIPER PA-22), FLEW A RIGHT DOWNWIND ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND THEN MADE A STEEP DESCENDING TURN TOWARD THE RUNWAY. ACFT #1 LANDED AND STRUCK ACFT #2 (N9102D, A PIPER PA-18) WHILE BOTH WERE ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT OF ACFT #2 SAID HE DID NOT SEE OR HEAR ANY OTHER AIRPLANES IN THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN.DURING THE LANDING ROLL, HIS RIGHT WING DIPPED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY ACFT #1. ACFT #2 THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH TREES.
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 for the Piper PA-22 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 705 hours in all; 410 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,578 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1988; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: North Pole AK at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 4,100 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:00 pm
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-18 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 65 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 18 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,815 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1987; 112 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTF Fairbanks AK at 8:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 4,100 ft by 80 ft
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.