Piper PA-28-180 accident near Coldfoot, Alaska, July 5, 1990
On July 5, 1990 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N6374J, was destroyed in an accident near Coldfoot, Alaska (Coldfoot Strip airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A DOWNDRAFT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM WHICH THE AIRPLANE COULD NOT OVERCOME WITH POWER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HEAVILY LOADED AIRPLANE AND THE ENGINE NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1990 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Coldfoot, Alaska · Coldfoot Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N6374J · no longer on the register · serial 28-4787
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HEAVILY LOADED AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO TREES ABOUT 40 SECONDS AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A CLOSED DIRT STRIP. GUSTY AND VARIBLE WINDS WERE REPORTED BY WITNESSES. ENGINE TEARDOWN FOUND ALL CYLINDERS CORRODED AND PITTED, RINGS IMPROPERLY ALIGNED, AND VALVES LEAKING.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: FAI Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°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.