Piper PA-18 accident near Chugiak, Alaska, May 8, 1995
On May 8, 1995 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N825PK, was destroyed in an accident near Chugiak, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTENT STALL. THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING AND AN ENCOUNTER WITH TURBULENCE WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 1995 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Chugiak, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N825PK · registry record · serial 18-8789
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTING ON A ROUND-ROBIN, THE PILOT CONTACTED THE LOCAL AUTOMATED FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (AFSS) AND AIR-FILED A VFR FLIGHT PLAN. THE AFSS REQUESTED A PILOT REPORT ABOUT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED A SMOOTH RIDE. ABOUT ELEVEN MILES NORTH OF THE LAST RADIO CONTACT POINT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PROPELLER RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE. THE ENGINE RECEIVED EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE. NO ENGINE MALFUNCTION WAS NOTED DURING A POSTACCIDENT ENGINE EXAMINATION. AN AIRMET WAS IN EFFECT WHICH STATED 'COOK INLET AND SUSITNA VALLEY...OCCASIONAL MODERATE TURBULENCE BELOW 9,000 FEET WITH ISOLATED SEVERE WITHIN 5,000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, ESPECIALLY THROUGH CHANNELED TERRAIN. CONTINUING BEYOND 1200.' SEARCH AIRCRAFT ALSO ENCOUNTERED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,365 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1995; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 11:48 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 am from MRI, 20 miles away
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.