Piper PA-18 accident near Gakona, Alaska, July 3, 1990
On July 3, 1990 at about 2:15 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N4878A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gakona, Alaska (Gakona airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1990 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Gakona, Alaska · Gakona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N4878A · registry record · serial 184977
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE AIRPLANE PERFORM WHAT APPEARED TO BE A NORMAL TAKEOFF. AT APPROXIMATELY 150 FEET, THE AIRPLANE MADE A STEEP, CLIMBING LET TURN. THE LEFT WING DROPPED SUDDENLY, QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK THE GROUND WITH A STEEP NOSE DOWN PITCH ATTITUDE. THE WITNESSES SAID THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WS DEVELOPING FULL POWER THROUGHOUT THE TAKEOFF AND ALL THE WAY TO IMPACT. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE AND AIRFRAME DISCLOSED NO APPARENT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OR ANOMALIES.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,230 hours in all; 480 in this make and model; 1,149 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,584 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 11, 1989; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.