Piper PA-18 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 1, 1992
On September 1, 1992 at about 5:08 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N4493Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Anchorage International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
MISJUDGMENT BY THE PILOT TO INSURE ADEQUATE DISTANCE FROM OBJECTS IN THE TAKEOFF AREA, WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ON TAKEOFF, AND THE UNCONTROLLED GROUND LOOP BY THE PILOT DURING A LANDING WITH THE DAMAGED LANDING GEAR. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE STUMP OR LOG OBSTRUCTING THE TAKEOFF AREA, AND THE DISTORTION TO THE LANDING GEAR FOLLOWING THE TAKEOFF AT THE REMOTE LOCATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1992 · about 5:08 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Anchorage International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N4493Z · registry record · serial 18-8847
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE PA-18 EQUIPPED WITH BALLOON TIRES STRUCK A STUMP OR OTHER OBJECT PRIOR TO BECOMING AIRBORNE AT A REMOTE STRIP. AFTER STRIKING THE OBJECT, THE PILOT BECAME AIRBORNE, ASSESSED DAMAGED TO THE LANDING GEAR AND CONTINUED THE FLIGHT TO ANCHORAGE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. UPON TOUCHDOWN THE PILOT LOST CONTROL AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DAMAGED MAIN GEAR AND NOSED OVER ON LANDING ROLL.
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: 1,938 hours in all; 1,038 in this make and model; 56.9 in the last 90 days; 17.3 in the last 30 days; 1,892 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,511 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1992; 18 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: ENA Trading Bay AK at 8:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 10,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.