# Accident 20230809008789A: Piper PA-18-150, Skwentna, AK, August 9, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 9, 2023, 12:00 local time
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unknown
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: EMVC
- Location: 62.4625° N, 152.3587° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.4625&lon=-152.3587&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4481Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4481Z) (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 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC23FA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA061) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230809008789A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT CRASH INVOLVING PILOT WITH ONE PASSENGER DEPARTED UNCONTROLLED AIRFIELD AT DONKEY CREEK ALASKA LOCATED NORTHEAST OF SKWENTNA ALASKA EN ROUTE TO DROP OFF A HUNTING PARTY VIA SHELLABARGER PASS LOCATED NEAR SOUTHWEST BORDER OF DENALI NATIONAL PARK. AIRCRAFT CRASH IMPACT POINT WAS NOTED PERPENDICULAR IN RELATION TO FLIGHT PATH IN A CANYON WALL BELOW A MOUNTAIN PASS VALLEY FLOOR THE PILOT WAS OPERATING AT. AVAILABLE WEATHER DATA TO INCLUDE SURROUNDING AREA WEATHER CAMERAS SUGGEST HIGHLY PROBABLE IMC OPERATING CONDITIONS AT THE ACCIDENT SIGHT LOCATION.

## 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 ANC23FA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC23FA061), Aug 9, 2023: Piper PA-18-150 (N4481Z), Skwentna, AK, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: An impact with terrain for reasons that could not be determined because the airplane was not recovered due to the inaccessible nature of the accident site.

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.

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