Piper PA-18-95 accident near Millinocket, Maine, August 21, 1985
On August 21, 1985 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-95, registered N3287Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Millinocket, Maine (South Twin Lake 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 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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1985 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Millinocket, Maine · South Twin Lake
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-95 · all PA-18-95s on the register
- Registration
- N3287Z · registry record · serial 18-7210
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS DEPARTING FROM SOUTH TWIN LAKE IN WINDS THAT WERE FROM 270 DEG AT 12 GUSTING 20 KTS. AFTER THE ACFT LIFTED OFF THE WATER, HE STARTED A SLIGHT TURN. HE STATED THAT AT ABOUT THAT TIME, A GUST OF WIND SIMULTANEOUSLY LIFTED THE NOSE & A WING, CAUSING THE ACFT TO STALL. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE LAKE & WAS DAMAGED.
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
- Flight time: 525 hours in all; 525 in this make and model; 61 in the last 90 days; 463 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,720 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:45 pm
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.