Piper PA-18 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, June 30, 1998
On June 30, 1998 at about 5:22 am local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N5994Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood Airstrip 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 pilot's inadvertent activation of the brakes during the takeoff roll, and subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1998 · about 5:22 am local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood Airstrip · 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
- N5994Z · registry record · serial 18-8252
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certificated commercial pilot was departing a gravel airstrip with the intentions of doing a few touch-and-go landings for pilot proficiency purposes. During the takeoff roll the airplane veered to the left, and departed the runway about midfield of the 2200 feet long airstrip. The main landing gear contacted soft terrain, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot said, in part: 'I applied full power for takeoff and the airplane pulled to the left and went off the runway and nosed over. I just forgot to take my feet off the brake pedals.' The pilot indicated that there were no preimpact mechanical difficulties with the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, and right wing lift strut.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,200 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,550 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1998; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,200 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from PAN
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.
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.