# NTSB ANC78FA071: Piper PA-18, N8838L, Cooper Landing, AK, August 31, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 31, 1978
- Place: Cooper Landing, AK · COOPER LANDING, AK
- Location: 60.4900° N, 149.8342° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Cooper Landing, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4900&lon=-149.8342&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139419
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC78FA071
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC78FA071

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3944  78/8/31  NR.COOPER LANDING,AK  PIPER PA-18         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 35, UNK/NR
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N8838L              PX-  1  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, UNK/NR INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          COOPER LANDING,AK           LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED DISTANCE,SPEED,ALTITUDE OR CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- A/C FLOAT EQUIPPED REPORTED TO BE SPOTTING BEAR.WATER FOUND IN RIGHT FLOAT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8838L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8838L-1978-08-31), registration cancelled 1978-08-31, S/N 18-8992, built 1972 (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: Destroyed

## 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 19780831042459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780831042459A), Aug 31, 1978: Piper PA18150, Cooper Landing, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. A/c float equipped reported to be spotting bear. Water found in rifloat.

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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