Piper PA-18 accident near Tok, Alaska, September 2, 1994
On September 2, 1994 at about 7:26 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N8597D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tok, Alaska (Natahona Creek airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 WORN CAM SHAFT LOBE AND WORN VALVE LIFTER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1994 · about 7:26 pm local time
- Place
- Tok, Alaska · Natahona Creek · 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
- N8597D · registry record · serial 18-6248
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE AIRPLANE REACHED THE END OF THE 600-FT STRIP, THE PILOT APPLIED THE SECOND NOTCH OF FLAPS. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE FOR ABOUT 20 FT, AND THEN SETTLED INTO BRUSH. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT 'MY IMPRESSION IS THAT WE LACKED OR LOST ADEQUATE POWER TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT...' ANOTHER COMPANY PA-18 AT SITE HAD NO DIFFICULTY IN FERRYING EVERYONE FROM THE SITE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE SHOWED THAT AN EXHAUST CAM LOBE WAS 30-40% WORN, AND THE ASSOCIATED CAM FOLLOWER WAS WORN AND DISH SHAPED. THE DEPTH OF THE WORN AREAS EXCEEDED THE DEPTH OF THE NITRATED SURFACE. ACCORDING TO THE DIR OF MAINT, A 50-HR INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED PREVIOUS TO THIS FLIGHT AND METAL PARTICLES WERE FOUND IN THE OIL SCREEN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 865 hours in all; 410 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 135 in the last 30 days; 835 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 12, 1994; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: 40 Mile Air, LTD.
The flight
- Destination: TKJ AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 600 ft by 10 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,500 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°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.
Other NTSB records under N8597D 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.