Piper PA-18-150 accident near Willow, Alaska, August 4, 1991
On August 4, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N4448Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willow, Alaska (Deshka River 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 IN-FLIGHT COLLISION OF THE AIRPLANE WITH AN OBJECT DUE TO THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S LACK OF AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH, UNEVEN AND NARROW CONDITION OF THE AIRSTRIP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Willow, Alaska · Deshka River · 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
- N4448Z · registry record · serial 18-8795
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED HE WAS MAKING A LOW PASS OVER THE INTENDED LANDING AREA WHEN HIS LEFT WING STRUCK SOME ALDER BUSHES. THE AIRPLANE VEERED LEFT AND HE ELECTED TO LAND IMMEDIATELY INSTEAD OF MAKING A GO AROUND. AFTER LANDING AND DURING THE ROLL OUT THE LEFT WING STRUCK SOME MORE BUSHES/TREES AND VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,200 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,640 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1991; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAQ Palmer AK at 3:45 pm
- Destination: NONE Deshka River AK
- Runway 18, 700 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N4448Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.