- Date
- December 2, 1985, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Fishtrap Lake, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1237APiper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19851202060989A
- Case key
- 4624
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Nose over
Landing gear,ski assembly - lack ofFactor
In-flight planning/decision - poorCause
Overconfidence in personal abilityFactor
Inadequate certification/approval,airman
Terrain condition - snow coveredFactor
Judgment - poorCause
Overconfidence in aircraft's abilityFactor
Terrain condition - softFactor
PressureFactor
Terrain condition - weak iceFactor
Lack of total experience in type of aircraftFactor
Light condition - duskFactor
Lack of total experienceFactor
Analysis
Pilot attempted to land his wheel equipped aircraft on frozen lake with water overflow and 12 to 18 inches snow. Acft broke through top layer of thin ice and nosed over upon touchdown.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1237A
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-1030
- Airframe hours
- 1,395
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290-O, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dick R. Stock
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Departed
- Z16 · Wasilla, AK
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 29
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 55 total · 22 in this make and model · 54 as pilot in command · 54 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Visibility
- 100 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.