Piper PA-18 accident near Pilot Point, Alaska, December 22, 1989
On December 22, 1989 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N8569D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pilot Point, Alaska (Pilot Point 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
FAILURE OF THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT TO REMOVE ICE/FROST FROM THE WING(S) PRIOR TO FLIGHT. HIS LACK OF TRAINING AND QUALIFICATION WERE PROBABLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 1989 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pilot Point, Alaska · Pilot Point · 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
- N8569D · registry record · serial 18-6223
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON-CERTIFICATED PILOT REPORTED HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF WITH LIGHT RIME ICE ON THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT WING. HE INDICATED THAT WHILE TAKING OFF WITH A LIGHT CROSSWIND COMPONENT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD INSUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO COMPENSATE FOR LOSS OF LIFT ON THE RIGHT WING. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE RIGHT WING STALLED & HIT THE RUNWAY. FAA RECORDS SHOWED THAT THE PILOT'S STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED IN 1981.
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
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- 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-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 3,500 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°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.