Piper PA-18 accident near Stony River, Alaska, September 14, 1989
On September 14, 1989 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N62RT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stony River, Alaska (Gravel Bar 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT HIS LANDING AREA WAS PROPERLY CLEAR PRIOR TO LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1989 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stony River, Alaska · Gravel Bar · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N62RT · registry record · serial 18-7609038
- 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 THE AIRPLANE HIT A LARGE ROCK WHILE LANDING ON A GRAVEL BAR, CAUSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TO COLLAPSE, AND THE LEFT WING TO HIT THE GROUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT RAIN ON THE WINDSHIELD PREVENTED HIM FROM SEEING THE ROCK IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING IT. HE ALSO STATED THAT SOMEONE HAD SABOTAGED THE LANDING AREA BY PUTTING NUMEROUS ROCKS THERE, TO DISCOURAGE OTHER HUNTERS FROM USING THE AREA.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,622 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 3,562 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Palmer AK at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 900 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.