Piper PA-18-150 accident near Gulkana, Alaska, September 10, 1994
On September 10, 1994 at about 3:45 am local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N57698, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gulkana, 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR A TAILWIND AND MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A TAILWIND 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
- September 10, 1994 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Gulkana, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N57698 · registry record · serial 18-7709126
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, ACCOMPANIED BY A PASSENGER, WAS LANDING A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED AIRPLANE ON A REMOTE GRAVEL BAR ADJACENT TO A RIVER. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO TURN TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT AND IT GROUND LOOPED TO THE RIGHT. THE LEFT WING AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WERE DAMAGED WHEN THEY STRUCK THE GROUND. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, HE NOTICED A TAIL WIND OF ABOUT 4 TO 5 KNOTS FROM THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER OF THE AIRPLANE.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,711 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,652 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z55 Lake Louise AK at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°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.