Piper PA-18 accident near Cantwell, Alaska, July 3, 1996
On July 3, 1996 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N57617, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cantwell, Alaska. It was a personal 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 inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions. A factor in the accident was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 1996 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Cantwell, Alaska · 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
- N57617 · registry record · serial 18-7709125
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and passenger were departing a remote and sandy area in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. The pilot had utilized the area many times in the past. The takeoff area is about 1,940 feet mean sea level and the temperature was about 70 degrees F. Variable wind conditions were blowing from the left side of the takeoff area with gusts of 25 knots. During the takeoff roll, a gust of wind pushed the airplane to the right into several alder trees. The airplane then ground looped and received damage to the left wing spar and left aileron.
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: 5,800 hours in all; 5,300 in this make and model; 5,700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Destination: BCV Birchwood AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:50 pm from TKN, 50 miles away
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 N57617 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.