# NTSB ANC84FA074: Piper PA-18, N1378C, Sleetmute, AK, May 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 21, 1984, 20:00 local (May 22, 1984, 04:00 UTC)
- Place: Sleetmute, AK
- Coordinates: 61.680667, -157.160583 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6807&lon=-157.1606&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4208
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC84FA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4208/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC84FA074

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - buzzing - performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PLT MADE 3 LOW PASSES AT SOME BOATS IN SLEETMUTE SLOUGH. THEY ESTIMATED THE PASSES WERE AT 5 TO 10 FT ABOVE THE WATER, THEN THE PLT WOULD PULL UP IN A STEEP CLIMB ATTITUDE, EXECUTE A 180 DEG TURN AND MAKE ANOTHER PASS. AFTER THE 3RD PASS, THE ACFT PULLED UP, YAWED TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED IN THE WATER WHILE IN A NOSE LOW, WINGS LEVEL ATTITUDE. A TOXICOLOGICAL CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.048% (48 MG%).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1378C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1378C-1989-06-12), registration cancelled 1989-06-12, S/N 182633 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-2633
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mildred I. Branham
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: SLEETMUTE, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: front; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 12 °F

## 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 19840521018069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840521018069A), May 21, 1984: Piper PA18135, Sleetmute, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Stalled on a vertical pullup after buzzing a fishing boat. Near vertical impact into the river. Alcohol a factor.

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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