Piper PA-18 accident near Sleetmute, Alaska, August 29, 1995
On August 29, 1995 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N7786D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sleetmute, Alaska (Cresent Lake Lodge airport). It was a business 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 PILOT'S ADEQUATE COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE CROSSWIND WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1995 · about 9:00 pm local time · cases in 1995
- Place
- Sleetmute, Alaska · Cresent Lake Lodge · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N7786D · registry record · serial 18-5984
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT AND A PASSENGER WERE LANDING AT A REMOTE HUNTING LODGE. THE PILOT LANDED TO THE WEST WITH A 7 KNOT CROSSWIND FROM THE SOUTH. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED TO THE LEFT AND VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRSTRIP, ACROSS A BERM. THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE RIGHT GEAR STRUT FAILED DURING THE LANDING. THE PILOT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE GEAR STRUT MAY HAVE FAILED DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION; HOWEVER, AN INSPECTION DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF CORROSION.
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: 5,000 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,722 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1995
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SLQ AK at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,200 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°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 N7786D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N7786D on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-18 Super Cub 3,620 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 27,303 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Sleetmute Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N7786D 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC95LA154.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.