Piper PA-18 accident near Kiana Creek, Alaska, October 1, 1989
On October 1, 1989 at about 1:45 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N83381, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kiana Creek, Alaska (Gravel Strip airport). It was a business 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
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, AND THE PREMATURE LIFT-OFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 1, 1989 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Kiana Creek, Alaska · Gravel Strip
- 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
- N83381 · registry record · serial 18-7609111
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT/HUNTING GUIDE REPORTED THAT HE WAS ANXIOUS TO RELOCATE A HUNTER BEFORE THE CLOSE OF HUNTING SEASON. HE SAID THAT HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A REMOTE, 900' GRAVEL STRIP. THE PILOT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, THE WIND SHIFTED FROM A HEADWIND TO A TAILWIND, AND THAT A GUST OF WIND PUSHED THE TAIL DOWN. HE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE STRIP AND STRIKING A STUMP.
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: 4,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 3,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 900 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 40,000 ft
- 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.
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.