Piper PA-18 accident near Circle, Alaska, August 4, 1995
On August 4, 1995 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N339T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Circle, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFTOFF DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1995 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Circle, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N339T · registry record · serial 18-2453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE DEPARTING A REMOTE GRAVEL BAR ALONG THE BANKS OF A RIVER. THE PILOT HAD LANDED ON THE SAME SECTION OF THE RIVER NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST. THE STRIP WAS ABOUT 650 FEET LONG AND WATER WAS PRESENT AT BOTH ENDS OF THE AREA. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER FOR TAKEOFF AND AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 300 FEET, THE AIRPLANE BECAME LIGHT. AFTER ABOUT 400 FEET OF DEPARTURE ROLL, THE PILOT ADDED FLAPS. THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF BUT THEN SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND AND BOUNCED OFF AN OPEN SECTION OF WATER. THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A LOG AND THE RIGHT WINGTIP CONTACTED A SMALL RIVER BANK. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST FACING 180 DEGREES FROM THE DEPARTURE HEADING.
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
- Flight time: 655 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 21 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,753 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 1995; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: K03 AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- 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.
Other NTSB records under N339T 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.