Piper PA-18 accident near Kotzebue, AK
On May 1, 2000, a Piper PA-18 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Kotzebue, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 1, 2000
- Place
- Kotzebue, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 67.241°N, 161.191°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X20930
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 1, 2000, about 0630 Alaska daylight time, a ski-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N3935Z, collided with snow-covered terrain 33.5 miles west-northwest of Kotzebue, Alaska, at latitude 67 degrees, 13.29 minutes north and longitude 163 degrees, 43.43 minutes west. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The pilot, the sole occupant and holder of an expired student pilot certificate, received fatal injuries. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. The flight originated from Kivalina, Alaska, about 0500. The pilot departed Kotzebue in the accident airplane on April 30, 2000, at 1502. According to personnel at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Flight Service Station (FSS) at Kotzebue, the pilot did not obtain a weather briefing from the facility, nor did he file a flight plan. On May 1, 2000, about 1900, the Alaska State Trooper's office in Kotzebue was notified that the accident airplane was discovered by passing villagers traveling on snowmachines along the coast near Cape Krusentern. The airplane was found inverted about 3/4 mile east of the coastline. In conversations with family members, the Troopers learned that the pilot flew to Kivalina the day before the accident. On May 1, the pilot departed Kivalina with a load of whale meat. The pilot had not filed a flight plan for the return flight to Kotzebue, and had not been reported overdue. On the evening of May 1, Alaska State Trooper personn
Probable cause
The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane due to spatial disorientation. Factors in the accident were weather conditions consisting of low ceilings, fog, a whiteout, and the pilot's lack of certification.
More accidents in AK
- Beech 1900C, Nov 23, 1987
- Textron Aviation Inc 208B, Feb 6, 2025
- Dehavilland DHC-3, Jul 7, 2013
- Cessna 208, Oct 10, 2001
- Dehavilland DHC-3, Jun 25, 2015
Browse: Alaska · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
