Piper PA-18 accident near Seboomook Lake, Maine, July 21, 1984
On July 21, 1984 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N9276D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seboomook Lake, Maine. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1984 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Seboomook Lake, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N9276D · registry record · serial 18-6579
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS ON FINAL FOR A WATER LANDING WHEN A BIRD HIT THE WINDSCREEN ACCORDING TO THE PLTS STATEMENT. A WITNESS WHO OBSERVED A DARK OBJECT (THOUGHT TO BE A CORMORANT, SINCE SEVERAL WERE SEEN IN THE AREA BEFORE & AFTER THE ACCIDENT) SAIDTHE OBJECT FLOATED AWAY FROM THE ACFT WRECKAGE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE IN THE WINDSCREEN AND CUTS OF THE PLTS FACE FROM FLYING GLASS AND THE EFFECT OF HIS GLASSES BEING FORCIBLY IMPACTED INTO HIS EYEBROWS. THE PLT HAS A VAGUE RECOLLECTION OF AN IMPACT AT APRX 50 FT AGL. WHEN HE REVIVED HE WAS IN THE WATER, HE SAID, AND AFTER RELEASING HIMSELF, HE MANAGED TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE DOOR FROM THE SUBMERGED, INVERTED ACFT. A MAN ON SHORE HAD HEARD THE ACFT CRASH AND CAME TO THE PLTS AID, GIVING HIM A RIDE TO SHORE IN A BOAT. THE PLT HAD MAINTAINED A HIGHER APCH TO MISS OBJECTS SEEN IN THE WATER.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 26,388 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 14,588 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,790 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1984; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jackman ME at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 NYC84LA253.