Piper PA-18-180 accident near Sparrevohn, Alaska, September 6, 1992
On September 6, 1992 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-180, registered N8699D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sparrevohn, Alaska. It was a business 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'S LOW PASS BETWEEN TREES IN CROSSWIND CONDITIONS AND INFLIGHT DECISION TO CONDUCT LOW ALTITUDE FLIGHT AT A LOCATION THAT WAS TOO RESTRICTED FOR SAFE OPERATION. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: CROSS WIND CONDITIONS AND OBSTACLES (TREES).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 6, 1992 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sparrevohn, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-180 · all PA-18-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8699D · registry record · serial 18-6277
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT MADE SEVERAL PASSES AT LOCATION FOR POSSIBLE LANDING IN REMOTE AREA. SUCCESSIVE PASSES TO VIEW LANDING AREA BECAME LOWER UNTIL BELOW TREE TOP LEVEL. CROSS WIND REPORTEDLY CAUSED AIRCRAFT WING TO STRIKE TREES. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN.
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: 3,702 hours in all; 92 in this make and model; 235 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 3,457 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Stony River Lge AK at 4:00 pm
- Destination: Moose Valley AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.