# NTSB ANC81DAA28: Piper PA-18, N7869D, Fairbanks, AK, August 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 15, 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: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 6, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124627
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC81DAA28
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAA28

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1867  81/8/15  NR.FAIRBANKS,AK       PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 32, 2021
        TIME - 1200                    N7869D              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 55 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          WOOD RIVER,AK              UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: DIRT BANK                                 TAKEOFF: RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SELECTED UNSUITABLE TERRAIN
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - SNOW
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - SNOW-COVERED
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY WEATHER BUREAU PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      400
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                                      30
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          CALM                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- ATMTD TKOF FM SNW CVRD GRAVEL BAR.ELEV 3200FT,HUMIDITY APRX 90PCT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7869D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7869D), registered now, S/N 18-6024, built 1957 (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 19810815058269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810815058269A), Aug 15, 1981: Piper PA18150, Fairbanks, AK, Substantial damage. Heavy, wet snow on airframe. Tried to depart from a sand bar, struck an embankment prior to liftoff.

## Other investigations on N7869D (1)

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 ANC78DAA37](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC78DAA37), Aug 26, 1978: Piper PA-18 (N7869D), Jarvis Creek, 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.

---
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.