Piper PA-18-160 accident near Northway, Alaska, August 26, 1996
On August 26, 1996 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-160, registered N2683A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Northway, Alaska (Horsefelt airport). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's premature lift-off. A factor associated with the accident was the rough and uneven airstrip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 1996 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Northway, Alaska · Horsefelt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-160 · all PA-18-160s on the register
- Registration
- N2683A · registry record · serial 18-2189
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he was taking off from a rough and uneven gravel and turf runway. During the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a grass clump and an uneven portion of the runway which acted like a ramp to project the airplane into the air. The airplane veered to the left, and the left wing struck a tree. The pilot was unable to maintain control, and the airplane crashed off the left side of the runway. In his report, under recommendations for how the accident could have been avoided, the pilot cited the rough and uneven runway, and the need to keep the airplane in a level attitude until sufficient airspeed is attained.
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: 5,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 5,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,329 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 1996; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORT at 1:30 pm
- Destination: JNU Juneau AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 1,100 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC96LA169.