Piper PA-18 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, February 5, 1993
On February 5, 1993 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N4882P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Fairbanks International airport). It was a personal 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 FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 1993 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Fairbanks International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N4882P · registry record · serial 18-7773
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN THE AIRPLANE ABRUPTLY SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND REALIGNMENT ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE LEFT THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATOR. THE PILOT SAID HE THOUGHT THE AIRPLANES LEFT BRAKE HAD MOMENTARILY LOCKED UP. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANES BRAKES AND FLIGHT CONTROLS FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.
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
- Flight time: 121 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 51 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,409 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1992; 168 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: FAI at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 13,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: -2°F (-19°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from FAI, 1 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N4882P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.