Piper PA-18 accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, June 9, 1996
On June 9, 1996, a Piper PA-18, registered N8560C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairbanks, Alaska (Fairbanks International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The obstruction of the left rudder pedal and brake by the battery cable.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1996
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Fairbanks International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N8560C · registry record · serial 18-2713
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing the airplane started to veer to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and right brake. The airplane continued to veer to the left. The pilot applied maximum braking and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane showed that the battery had been moved from the rear of the airplane to a location underneath the instrument panel in accordance with a Supplemental Type Certificate. The battery cable would contact the left rudder pedal and brake when the right rudder pedal was applied. This contact with the battery cable applied uncommanded left brake pressure.
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: 300 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 240 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,246 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1996; 6 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: 2Z5 AK at 7:15 pm
- Destination: FAI AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,978 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 11,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from FAI
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.
Other NTSB records under N8560C 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.