- Date
- March 10, 1988, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Mcgrath, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N78AJPiper PA-18
- Weather
- Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19880310005039A
- Case key
- 4992
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.
Loss of control - on ground/water
Terrain condition - snow coveredFactor
Directional control - not maintainedCause
Terrain condition - rough/unevenFactor
Terrain condition - hidden obstruction(s)Factor
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selectedCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/water
Analysis
The private pilot-in-command of the Piper PA-18 lost control of the airplane while attempting to takeoff from a section of snow covered river ice.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N78AJ
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-7809111
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2A, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James B. Leach, III
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Cripple 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
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 7,200 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.