# NTSB ANC88FA052: Piper PA-18-150, N54768, Larson Bay, AK, May 3, 1988 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 3, 1988, 15:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Larson Bay, AK - Coordinates: 57.59069, -153.909378 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.5907&lon=-153.9094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 4949 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88FA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4949/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88FA052 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - procedures/directives - inadequate, company/operator management (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, maneuvering - procedures/directives - inadequate, company/operator management (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A FLOAT EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18-150 AND FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA 185F, WERE INVOLVED IN A MIDAIR COLLISION AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET MSL OVER LARSON BAY, AK. AT THE TIME OF THE MIDAIR COLLISION BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE BEING USED AS FISH SPOTTERS FOR SEVERAL FISHING BOATS IN THE AREA. THE PA-18-150 WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE CESSNA 185F RECEIVED NO DAMAGE AND THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. BOTH ACFT WERE FLYING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER WITH THE PIPER SLIGHTLY LOWER. ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA PLT HE SPOTTED THE PIPER BELOW HIM. WHEN THE PIPER TURNED TO THE LEFT THE CESSNA PLT SAID HE THEN TURNED RT AND PULLED UP BUT HIS LEFT FLOAT CONTACTED THE PIPER RT WING. THE IMPACT DID NOT SEEM SEVERE ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA PLT AND THE ONLY DAMAGE HE NOTED ON THE PIPER WAS TO THE OUTBOARD END OF THE RT WING. THE PIPER, HOWEVER, CONTINUED A LEFT SPIRAL TO THE WATER. THE CESSNA PLT SAID HE THOUGHT THE BOATS SHOULD WARN THE PLTS ON A COMMON RADIO FREQ WHEN TWO ACFT ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A FLOAT EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18-150 AND FLOAT EQUIPPED CESSNA 185F, WERE INVOLVED IN A MIDAIR COLLISION AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET MSL OVER LARSON BAY, AK. AT THE TIME OF THE MIDAIR COLLISION BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE BEING USED AS FISH SPOTTERS FOR SEVERAL FISHING BOATS IN THE AREA. THE PA-18-150 WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE CESSNA 185F RECEIVED NO DAMAGE AND THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. BOTH ACFT WERE FLYING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER WITH THE PIPER SLIGHTLY LOWER. ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA PLT HE SPOTTED THE PIPER BELOW HIM WHEN THE PIPER TURNED TO THE LEFT. THE CESSNA PLT SAID HE THEN TURNED RT AND PULLED UP BUT HIS LEFT FLOAT CONTACTED THE PIPER'S RT WING. THE IMPACT DID NOT SEEM SEVERE ACCORDING TO THE CESSNA PLT AND THE ONLY DAMAGE HE NOTED ON THE PIPER WAS TO THE OUTBOARD END OF THE RT WING. THE PIPER, HOWEVER, CONTINUED A LEFT SPIRAL TO THE WATER. THE CESSNA PLT SAID HE THOUGHT THE BOATS SHOULD WARN THE PLTS ON A COMMON RADIO FREQ WHEN TWO ACFT ARE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N54768](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54768-1989-04-07), registration cancelled 1989-04-07, S/N 187609055 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 187609055 - Airframe hours: 1600 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kip Groves - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 1988, 83 hours before ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N9030R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9030R), registered now, S/N 185-1244, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185e) (registry code 2072818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1851244 - Airframe hours: 5600 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: James David Jones - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 1987, 100 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N54768; age 40; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 11,550 total, 11,550 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N9030R; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,666 total, 1,015 in this make and model, 3,523 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19880503027832A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880503027832A), May 3, 1988: Piper PA18150, Larson Bay, AK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Was struck in midair by N9030R. Impact severed part of wing. Crashed into water. Both aircraft spotting for fish. - [Accident 19880503027831A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880503027831A), May 3, 1988: Cessna A185E, Larson Bay, AK. Overtook and collided with N54768 and severing part of its wing causing it to crash. Both aircraft spotting fish. ## Other investigations on N54768 (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 DEN79DTC07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN79DTC07), Jan 24, 1979: Piper PA-18 (N54768), Casper, WY, 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.