Piper PA-18-150 accident near Lime Village, Alaska, September 10, 1992
On September 10, 1992 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N3384Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lime Village, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE WIND GUSTS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1992 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Lime Village, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3384Z · registry record · serial 18 7268
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TRANSPORT A HUNTING GUIDE AND EQUIPMENT TO A NEW LOCATION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE PERFORMING A LANDING ON 'RIDGE TOP TUNDRA' A GUST OF WIND HIT THE AIRPLANE ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE MADE AN AILERON CORRECTION AND ADDED FULL POWER FOR A GO AROUND. HOWEVER, THE LEFT WING DRAGGED THE GROUND FOLLOWED IN SHORT ORDER BY THE PROPELLER AND THE PLANE'S NOSE HITTING THE GROUND AND THE AIRPLANE GOING OVER ONTO ITS BACK.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,189 hours in all; 801 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 1,073 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,916 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 31, 1992; 105 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: Taylor Mtn Mine AK at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°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.
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.