# Accident 20110904021679A: Piper PA-18-150, Mcgrath, AK, September 4, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 4, 2011, 15:15 local time
- Place: Mcgrath, AK
- Airport: Mcgrath
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 62.9528° N, 155.6069° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.9528&lon=-155.6069&mi=10
- Aircraft: N13973, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N13973) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320-B2B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 23,900 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 175 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC11FA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11FA093) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110904021679A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2011, AT ABOUT 1515 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE, N13973, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN ITS ENGINE LOST POWER, AND IT CRASHED DURING FINAL APPROACH TO MCGRATH AIRPORT, MCGRATH, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) PERSONAL CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, PART 91,WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND THE SOLO COMMERCIAL PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED KINGSTON CREEK, WHICH IS ABOUT 85 MILES EAST OF MCGRATH.PILOTS LAST RADIO TRANSMISSION STATED HE HAD DEPARTED KINGSTON CREEK WAS 1 MILE EAST OF RUNWAY 05 IN MCGRATH AND HAD LOST ENGINE POWER.  ALASKA STATE TROOPERS REPORTED PILOT ALIVE BUT UNCONSCIOUS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 ANC11FA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC11FA093), Sep 4, 2011: Piper PA-18-150 (N13973), McGrath, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot inadvertently switched off the engine magnetos during short final approach, which resulted in a loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the manufacturer's placement of the…

## Other reports on N13973 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19780430042409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780430042409A), Apr 30, 1978: Piper PA18150 (N13973), Homer, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Large rock on beach used for tkof.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
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.