Piper PA-18-150 accident near Grand Lake Strm, Maine, August 12, 1994
On August 12, 1994 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N8588Y, was destroyed in an accident near Grand Lake Strm, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A MANEUVER AT AN ALTITUDE INSUFFICIENT FOR RECOVERY. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS PILOT PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT DUE TO ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 1994 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grand Lake Strm, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N8588Y · no longer on the register · serial 18-8892
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO GIVE THE PASSENGER A SIGHTSEEING RIDE OF LAKE POCUMCUS. WHILE THE FLIGHT WAS JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE LAKE, THE PILOT INITIATED A 90-DEGREE CLIMB. A WITNESS STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE GAINED ABOUT 300 FEET IN ALTITUDE AND LOST '...ALMOST ALL AIRSPEED.' THE WITNESS STATED, 'I BELIEVE THE PILOT PUSHED THE NOSE OVER BECAUSE THE WINGS STAYED LEVEL.' THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED STRAIGHT DOWN AND IMPACTED THE WATER. NUMEROUS WITNESSES STATED THEY HEARD THE ENGINE RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE MANUEVER UNTIL IMPACT. POST- ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE REVEALED NO ANOMALIES. A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN BY A WITNESS ON THE SHORE OF THE LAKE JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT SHOWED THE AIRPLANE'S ELEVATORS IN A TRAILING EDGE UP POSITION. THE PILOT'S BLOOD-ALCOHOL LEVEL WAS 0.075%. FAA REGULATIONS PROHIBITS OPERATION OF AN AIRCRAFT ABOVE AN 0.040% LEVEL.
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: 570 hours in all; 336 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 517 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 1, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 1,760 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake Pocumcus ME at 10:25 pm
- Destination: ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from BGR, 40 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.
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.