Piper PA-18 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, July 27, 1988
On July 27, 1988 at about 7:03 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N8653Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Anchorage 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1988 · about 7:03 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Anchorage · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N8653Y · registry record · serial 18 7309024
- 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 HIS PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED WHEN THEIR PIPER PA-18 (SUPER CUB) GROUND-LOOPED WHILE LANDING AT ANCHORAGE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ANCHORAGE, AK. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE 'GRABBED' WHEN IT TOUCHED THE PAVED RUNWAY SURFACE, AND THE AIRPLANE TURNED ABRUPTLY TO THE RIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE COULD HAVE AVOIDED THE RESULTING GROUND-LOOP IF HE HAD APPLIED THE LEFT BRAKE SOONER. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH OVER-SIZED 30' TIRES.
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: 1,596 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,555 as pilot in command; 39 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,378 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1988; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAQ Palmer AK at 1:30 pm
- Destination: ANC Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 10,496 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Observation at 1:50 pm from ANC
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 N8653Y 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.