# NTSB ANC78FA055: Piper PA-18, N3976Z, Petersville, AK, July 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 18, 1978
- Place: Petersville, AK · PETERSVILLE, AK
- Location: 62.4964° N, 150.7656° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Petersville, AK, within about 12 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4964&lon=-150.7656&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report December 14, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 140366
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC78FA055
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC78FA055

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3383  78/7/18  NR.PETERSVILLE,AK     PIPER PA-18         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 40, 700
        TIME - 2145                    N3976Z              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          TALKEETNA,AK                UPPER CACHE CREEK,AK        UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ALCOHOLIC IMPAIRMENT OF EFFICIENCY AND JUDGMENT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  100
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                     RAIN
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          FOG                                                       15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- STEEP TURN OUT OF BOX CANYON.WINDS GUSTING TO 25KTS.PLT BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL 74MG/DL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3976Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3976Z-2011-07-25), registration cancelled 2011-07-25, S/N 18-7913, built 1963 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## FAA reports on this event (1)

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

- [Accident 19780718038909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780718038909A), Jul 18, 1978: Piper PA18S125, Petersville, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Steep turn out of box canyon. Winds gusting to 25KTS.plt blood alc level 74MG/DL.

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.

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