Piper PA-18 accident near Iliamna, Alaska, August 14, 1992
On August 14, 1992 at about 6:10 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N3906Z, was destroyed in an accident near Iliamna, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1992 · about 6:10 am local time
- Place
- Iliamna, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N3906Z · no longer on the register · serial 18-7720
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ABORTING THE SECOND OR THIRD ATTEMPTED LANDING ON A MOUNTAIN RIDGE HUNTING STRIP, THE PILOT TURNED DOWNWIND. SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER ROLLING OUT OF THE TURN ON DOWNWIND, AND WHILE AT ABOUT 10 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE'S TAIL WENT UP AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED TO THE GROUND. IMMEDIATELY UPON IMPACT THE AIRPLANE BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE. THREE GROUND WITNESSES ESTIMATED THAT THE GUSTY WIND WAS BLOWING AT 30 TO 50 KNOTS.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 562 hours in all; 264 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 13, 1992; 94 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 30 knots, gusting 50
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- 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.