# NTSB ANC78FA039: Piper PA-18, N1158A, Rocky Cove, AK, May 21, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 21, 1978
- Place: Rocky Cove, AK · ROCKY COVE, AK
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 3, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 141679
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC78FA039
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC78FA039

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4382  78/5/21    ROCKY COVE,AK       PIPER PA-18         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1030                    N5882D              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL SURVEY             33, 4478 TOTAL HOURS, 328
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  1  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          INSKIN BAY,AK               ROCKY COVE,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- FISH SPOTTING.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4382  78/5/21    ROCKY COVE,AK       PIPER PA-18         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 52, 2713
        TIME - 1030                    N1158A              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL SURVEY             TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  1  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED         ROCKY COVE,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN WATER
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - NOT UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO                                ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- FISH SPOTTING.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N1158A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1158A-1980-10-10), registration cancelled 1980-10-10, S/N 18-755, built 1951 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18s) (registry code 7101806) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N5882D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5882D-1981-01-26), registration cancelled 1981-01-26, S/N 18-5306 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19780521042572A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780521042572A), May 21, 1978: Piper PA18S, Rocky Cove, AK, Destroyed. Fish spotting.
- [Accident 19780521042571A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780521042571A), May 21, 1978: Piper PA18S125, Rocky Cove, AK, Destroyed. Fish spotting.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.