Piper PA18 accident near St. Mary'S, Alaska, September 21, 2018
On September 21, 2018 at about 4:00 am local time, a 1957 Piper PA18, registered N8192D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near St. Mary'S, 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 selection of an unsuitable off-airport landing area, which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2018 · about 4:00 am local time
- Place
- St. Mary'S, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA18 150, built 1957 · all PA18s on the register
- Registration
- N8192D · registry record · serial 18-6130
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing at an off-airport dirt and grass landing area, the ground was very slippery. During the landing roll, the airplane struck a few holes and bumps, and the airplane rocked side to side. The airplane's left wing struck the ground and "pushed up," which caused the right wing to strike and catch the ground. The airplane ground looped to the right and came to rest in a nose-down attitude. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Miscellaneous/other during landing defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Decision related to condition
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy terrain › Decision related to condition
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Wet/muddy terrain › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 350 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 17, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,693 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C4P (piston); 650 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ksm St. Mary'S AK
- Destination: St. Mary'S AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:02 am from PASM, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on December 14, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N8192D 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.