Piper PA-18A-135 accident near Paxson, Alaska, February 29, 1992
On February 29, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A-135, registered N3372B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paxson, Alaska. 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
THE PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN & MAINTAIN TAKEOFF AIRSPEED. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: TAKEOFF WAS PERFORMED WITH A TAILWIND, AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 29, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Paxson, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A-135 · all PA-18A-135s on the register
- Registration
- N3372B · registry record · serial 18-3496
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER LANDING ON A SNOW COVERED RIDGE, THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE AROUND TO TAKE OFF DOWNWIND AND DOWN SLOPE. AFTER THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AND ATTAINED AN ALTITUDE OF 10 FEET AGL, THE PILOT FELT THE AIRPLANE STALL. THE PILOT NOSED THE AIRPLANE DOWN TO INCREASE THE AIRSPEED. THE PILOT THEN PULLED THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE UP, WHICH AGAIN STALLED. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN ENOUGH AIRSPEED TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND OPTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. DURING THE DESCENT IN THE CANYON, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TREES.
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: 500 hours in all; 440 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Z93 Copper Center AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 5°F (-15°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.