Piper PA-18 accident near Chugiak, Alaska, May 3, 1993
On May 3, 1993 at about 5:30 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N82231, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska (Birchwood airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT BRAKE DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE BRAKE LINE. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY NOT CHECKING THE BRAKES PRIOR TO LANDING, AND THE BERM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1993 · about 5:30 am local time
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · Birchwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N82231 · no longer on the register · serial 18-7907076
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE GRAVEL RUNWAY, THE PILOT APPLIED BRAKES AND FOUND THE RIGHT BRAKE INOPERATIVE. THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A BERM. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT CHECK THE BRAKES PRIOR TO LANDING. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION FOUND THAT MOST OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID HAD DRAINED OUT OF THE RIGHT BRAKE SYSTEM FROM AN IMPROPERLY FLARED LINE AT THE RIGHT BRAKE ASSEMBLY.
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: 3,100 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1993; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLG Dillingham AK at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°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.
Other NTSB records under N82231 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.