# NTSB ANC88LA018: Piper PA-18, N1237A, Wasilla, AK, December 6, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 6, 1987, 08:15 local (12:15 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 4977
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC88LA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/4977/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC88LA018

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - to takeoff
  - terrain condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - to takeoff

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF WHEN HE LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT CAUSING THE RIGHT MAIN SKI TO BREAK THROUGH THE ICE; THE AIRCRAFT THEN GROUND LOOPED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1237A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 181030
- Airframe hours: 1552
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dick R. Stock
- Registered owner: Dick R. Stock
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1987, 67 hours before
- Destination: AKN, KING SALMON, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 300 total, 200 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 19 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19871206069179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871206069179A), Dec 6, 1987: Piper PA18, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Ski equipped aircraft ground looped during taxi on a frozen lake causing a ski to break thru the ice. Gusty winds.

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.