Piper PA-18 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, September 16, 1992
On September 16, 1992 at about 1:26 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N1299C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, 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 MISJUDGED THE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR FLOAT PLANE OPERATIONS AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH GUSTY WINDS, THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE, AND INADEQUATE RECURRENT TRAINING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 1992 · about 1:26 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N1299C · no longer on the register · serial 18-2512
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT ATTEMPTED CROSS WIND TAKEOFF IN HIGH GUSTY WINDS FROM SMALL RESIDENTIAL LAKE. WITNESSES REPORTED AIRCRAFT TO TAKEOFF PREMATURELY, ROLL 90 DEGREES, STRIKING THE WATER. THE PILOT LACKED RECENT EXPERIENCE, 'HAVING NOT FLOWN IN QUITE SOME TIME,' AND DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT MEDICAL OR BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1992; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 30 knots, gusting 35
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°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.