Piper PA-18-150 accident near Aniak, Alaska, August 12, 1990
On August 12, 1990 at about 8:00 am local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N3946Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aniak, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AS A RESULT OF ENCOUNTERING SEVERE WEATHER EITHER DURING TAKEOFF OR LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SEVERE WEATHER, ROUGH WATER SURFACE, AND SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE TO FLY BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1990 · about 8:00 am local time
- Place
- Aniak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3946Z · no longer on the register · serial 18-7804
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE FLOAT-EQUIPPED AIRPLANE WAS FOUND FLOATING UPSIDE DOWN IN A LAKE WHERE THE PILOT AND PASSENGER HAD BEEN HUNTING. STRONG WINDS, ROUGH SWELLS, AND WATER SPOUTS REPORTEDLY EXISTED.
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
- Flight time: 5,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 25, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,760 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:00 pm
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.