Piper PA-18-150 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, September 14, 1991
On September 14, 1991, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N3290Z, was destroyed in an accident near Wasilla, 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
A LOSS OF CONTROL IN FLIGHT DUE TO IMPROPER LOADING OF THE AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 14, 1991
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska
- 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
- N3290Z · registry record · serial 18-7227
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO WITNESS WHO WATCHED THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND AND THE PAASSENGER LOAD THE AIRPLANE AND TAKEOFF, THE CARGO AREA WAS COMPLETELY FILLED UP TO THE CEILING OF THE AIRPLANE AND THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS SHORT. AS SOON AS THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF IT ROSE INTO THE AIR WITH A VERY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE UNTIL REACHING 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. THE WITNESS STATED THAT IT APPEARED HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT DOWN. UPON FLYING PAST THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP IT MADE A STEEP BANK TO THE RIGHT, STABILIZED FOR A MOMENT AND THEN ROLLED INVERTED, NOSED OVER AND DOVE INTO THE GROUND.
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: 600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,240 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Wasilla AK at 7:45 pm
- Destination: Field Site AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°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.