Piper PA-22-150 accident near Deadhorse, Alaska, August 8, 1994
On August 8, 1994 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N4450A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deadhorse, Alaska (Grasser Airstrip 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 SEPARATION OF THE LANDING GEAR TUBE AT THE SPINDLE DUE TO CORROSION. AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION 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 8, 1994 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Deadhorse, Alaska · Grasser Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4450A · registry record · serial 22-3782
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE LANDING ON A GRAVEL AIRSTRIP FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF A PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHEEP HUNTING. DURING THE LANDING TOUCHDOWN, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR TUBE SEPARATED AT THE AXLE SPINDLE AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. THE PILOT REPORTED FINDING CORROSION AT THE POINT OF SEPARATION IN AN AREA COVERED BY THE AIRCRAFT'S FABRIC SKIN. THE FABRIC WAS INSTALLED ON THE AIRPLANE 30 YEARS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRPLANE HAD RECEIVED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION 43 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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: 222 hours in all; 166 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 189 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,776 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1994; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SCC AK at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,800 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 315° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- 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.