Piper PA-18-150 accident near Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska, September 12, 1991
On September 12, 1991 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N2515A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THAT THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY STALL/SPUN THE AIRPLANE TO THE GROUND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY REMOVE THE ICE/FROST FROM THE WINGS BEFORE STARTING THE TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 1991 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Anaktuvuk Pass, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2515A · registry record · serial 18-1972
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND WITNESSES REPORTED THAT JUST AFTER THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF FROM A REMOTE MOUNTAIN STRIP, THE LEFT WING SUDDENLY DROPPED, AND THE AIRPLANE SPUN TO THE GROUND. THE PILOT THOUGHT THAT HE HAD POSSIBLY NOT REMOVED ALL OF THE FROST FROM THE WINGS AFTER HE REMOVED THE WING COVERS. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT. THE TEMPERATURES HAD BEEN BELOW FREEZING, AND 2-3 INCHES OF DRY SNOW HAD FALLEN.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,594 hours in all; 1,532 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,375 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 25, 1991; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AKP Anaktuvuk Pss AK at 2:00 pm
- Destination: AKP Anaktuvuk Pass AK
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N2515A 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.