- Date
- September 15, 1987, 19:00 local (Sep 16, 1987, 03:00 UTC)
- Place
- Shaw Creek, AK
- Injuries
- 3 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N3140MPiper PA-12
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 27, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19870915053219A
- Case key
- 4790
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Analysis
The private pilot was transporting passengers incidental to the operation of his lodge. According to witnesses, it was common for pilots to use that portion of the highway for takeoffs and landings. According to the husband of one of the fatally injured passengers, the pilot was planning to land on the highway, just as he had done previously. Another witness stated the airplane was paralleling the highway and made a right turn towards the road and the hill. The airplane then 'wobbled' slightly, and then dove toward the road with the right wing low. The airplane impacted approximately 20 yards in front of a tractor trailer on the highway. The airplane burst into flames and slid into the ditch alongside of the highway.
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.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3140M
- Reported as
- Piper PA-12
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 121824
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-B3B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Operator
- David Mccarter
- Registered owner
- David & Nancy Mccarter
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Dry Creek, AK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,950 total · 2,500 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3140M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.