Piper PA-18 accident near Koliganek, Alaska, August 20, 1994
On August 20, 1994 at about 1:50 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N94FB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Koliganek, Alaska. 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 INADEQUATE IN-FLIGHT PLANNING AND FAILURE TO ATTAIN A TOUCHDOWN POINT IN THE LANDING AREA. AN OBSTACLE (TREE) IN THE LANDING AREA WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1994 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Koliganek, 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 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N94FB · no longer on the register · serial 18-7509125
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE COMPLETING A PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF HUNTING AND THE PILOT PLANNED A LANDING IN A REMOTE AREA OF TUNDRA IN AN AIRPLANE EQUIPPED WITH LARGE TUNDRA TIRES. THE PILOT ESTIMATED THE LANDING AREA TO BE ABOUT 600 FEET LONG. THE PILOT LANDED IN ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE AREA; HOWEVER, THEN DECIDED TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND. THE PILOT ADDED FULL POWER; HOWEVER, THE LEFT WING AND LEFT LANDING GEAR STRUCK ABOUT A 20 FOOT HIGH TREE. AFTER IMPACT, THE PILOT LANDED AND DISCOVERED THAT THE INTENDED LANDING AREA WAS 400 FEET LONG.
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: 703 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 668 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,165 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 18, 1994; 111 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: ILI Palmer AK at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.