Piper PA-18A accident near Anchorage, Alaska, August 21, 1995
On August 21, 1995 at about 2:45 am local time, a Piper PA-18A, registered N7262D, was destroyed in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE OR ALTITUDE FROM THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, WHILE MANEUVERING NEAR AN AIRSTRIP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1995 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A · all PA-18As on the register
- Registration
- N7262D · no longer on the register · serial 18-5670
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED ON A LOCAL AREA FLIGHT TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS IN THE AREA OF A 4,200 FOOT HIGH MOUNTAIN. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT RETURN AND AN AERIAL SEARCH WAS INITIATED. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, A WITNESS IN AN AIRPLANE FLYING IN THE AREA, REPORTED TO SEARCH PERSONNEL THAT SHE OBSERVED AN AIRPLANE CREST THE MOUNTAIN TOP AND DESCEND DOWNSLOPE OUT OF VIEW, FOLLOWED BY A CLOUD OF DUST. SEARCH PERSONNEL REPORTED ONLY FINDING MISCELLANEOUS DEBRIS. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED ABOUT 4 WEEKS LATER NEAR THE SUMMIT OF THE MOUNTAIN, PARTIALLY CONSUMED BY A POSTCRASH FIRE. IT WAS FOUND BY A PASSING HELICOPTER NESTLED IN A GREY AND BLACK COLORED ROCK OUTCROPPING. THE WRECKAGE PATH WAS ORIENTED ON AN EASTERLY HEADING AND WAS LOCATED ABOUT 100 YARDS SOUTH OF A SMALL AIRSTRIP AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. THE AIRSTRIP IS ORIENTED ON A NORTH/SOUTH HEADING. ABOUT 27 MILES EAST AT ANCHORAGE, THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 250 DEGREES AT 4 KNOTS.
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
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Z41 AK at 7:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 90 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from ANC, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.