Piper PA-18A accident near Eisenmenger Crk, Alaska, August 13, 1992
On August 13, 1992, a Piper PA-18A, registered N3889P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eisenmenger Crk, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN CLEARANCE OF THE HIGH VEGETATION DURING TAKEOFF. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE HIGH VEGETATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1992
- Place
- Eisenmenger Crk, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A · all PA-18As on the register
- Registration
- N3889P · registry record · serial 18-4722
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON THE DAY PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT LANDED AT THE REMOTE, UNIMPROVED STRIP, WHICH AT THE TIME, WAS 200 TO 250 FEET LONG. DURING THAT LANDING HE USED HEAVY BRAKING AND NOSED THE AIRPLANE OVER INTO A SMALL CREEK, CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE. THE NEXT DAY, AFTER GETTING THE AIRPLANE RIGHT SIDE UP, AND THE STRIP LENGTHENED TO 450 FEET LONG, HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF. AFTER GETTING AIRBORNE THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED SOME BUSHES, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO HIT THE TUNDRA AND NOSE OVER AGAIN.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,481 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,957 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,806 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 1992; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: D66 Delta Junction AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.