# NTSB ANC81DAA25: Piper PA-18, N5087Y, Fairbanks, AK, August 16, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 16, 1981
- Place: Fairbanks, AK · FAIRBANKS, AK
- Location: 64.8378° N, 147.7164° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fairbanks, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8378&lon=-147.7164&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124599
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC81DAA25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAA25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1818  81/8/16  NR.FAIRBANKS,AK       PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0715                    N5087Y              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  AGE 33, 4162 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            1000 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BUSH STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WOOD RIVER,AK               LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
        FACTOR(S)
           AIRPORTS/AIRWAYS/FACILITIES - AIRPORT CONDITIONS: OTHER
           WEATHER - SNOW
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      1500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
          NONE                                                     360
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR
        REMARKS- DEPD FM 900FT GRAVEL BAR.PLT STATED SNOW WAS CLRD FM ACFT,BUT MORE SNOW ACCUMULATED BFR TKOF.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5087Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5087Y), registered now, S/N 18-7894, built 1962 (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
- Airport: Bush Strip

## 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 19810816049679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810816049679A), Aug 16, 1981: Piper PA18150, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Snow on airplane on takeoff from short gravel bar. Settled after lift off, struck a log pile.

## Other investigations on N5087Y (4)

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.

- [NTSB ANC89LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC89LA096), Jun 19, 1989: Piper PA-18 (N5087Y), Rainbow Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN AIRSPEED (ANGLE OF ATTACK) THAT WOULD PRECLUDE A STALL.
- [NTSB ANC84LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84LA021), Dec 1, 1983: Piper PA-18 (N5087Y), Delta Junction, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC79DAA34](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC79DAA34), Sep 5, 1979: Piper PA-18 (N5087Y), Eielson Afb, AK, substantial damage
- [NTSB ANC77DAH05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC77DAH05-145089), Sep 5, 1977: Piper PA-18 (N5087Y), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage

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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