Piper PA-18 accident near Nulato, Alaska, July 6, 1995
On July 6, 1995 at about 5:20 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N8324, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nulato, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED AND CLEARANCE (ALTITUDE) ABOVE THE WATER, WHILE MANEUVERING AT LOW ALTITUDE. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER DECISION TO ALLOW A PASSENGER TO ACCOMPANY THE FLIGHT WITHOUT A SEAT BELT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1995 · about 5:20 am local time
- Place
- Nulato, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N8324 · registry record · serial 18-2377
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS FLYING LOW ALONG THE YUKON RIVER WHEN HE ELECTED TO MANEUVER AT LOW ALTITUDE. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WATER WHEN THE PILOT LOST AIRSPEED DURING A TURN. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE FATALLY INJURED PASSENGER HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE EXTENDED BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT, WHICH WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH EITHER A SEAT OR SEAT RESTRAINT SYSTEM.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,289 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,687 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 24, 1995; 19 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: Fish Camp AK
- Destination: AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.