Piper PA-18-150 accident near Trading Bay, Alaska, September 1, 1989
On September 1, 1989 at about 3:30 am local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N4482E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Trading Bay, Alaska. 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
SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN (LANDING AREA) BY THE PILOT. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: IMPROPER INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OTHER PERSONNEL AND A HIDDEN OBSTRUCTION (LOG) IN TALL VEGETATION (GRASS).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1989 · about 3:30 am local time
- Place
- Trading Bay, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4482E · registry record · serial 18-8109025
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & A FRIEND WERE ON A FLT TO AN OFF-ARPT LOCATION TO HUNT DUCKS. AFTER ARRIVING, ANOTHER ACFT WAS PARKED IN THEIR USUAL LANDING AREA, OBSTRUCTING ITS USE. PERSONNEL OF A 3RD ACFT (FLOAT PLANE) RECOMMENDED AN ALTERNATE LOCATION FOR LANDING. THIS WAS A GRASS COVERED MUD FLAT, WHICH THE PLT OF N4482E ELECTED TO USE. HOWEVER, DRG THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE ACFT HIT A LOG AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 35 YARDS.
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: 2,500 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 475 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 1, 1989; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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 N4482E 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.