Piper PA-18-150 accident near Delta Junction, Alaska, July 1, 1991
On July 1, 1991 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N1476C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delta Junction, Alaska (Portage Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LOSS OF CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN, THEREBY ALLOWING THE AIRPLANE TO STRAY FROM THE RUNWAY'S CENTERLINE AND TO STRIKE SOME HIGH VEGETATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1991 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Delta Junction, Alaska · Portage Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N1476C · registry record · serial 18-2681
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND, HE STARTED HIS TAKE OFF RUN TO THE EAST AND WAS AWARE OF THE DOG LEG IN THE RUNWAY. HE NEGOTIATED THE DOG LEG IN THE RUNWAY. HE NEGOTIATED THE DOG LEG, A 10 TO 15 DEGREE TURN TO THE RIGHT, AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT DESPITE HIS PEDAL CORRECTIONS, UNTIL IT STRUCK SOME HIGH VEGETATION.
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: 2,100 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FAI Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 1,300 ft by 15 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°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.