# NTSB ANC07LA106: Piper PA-18, N4468Z, Fairbanks, AK, September 21, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 2007, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.223335, -147.671951 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.2233&lon=-147.6720&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 66761 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC07LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66761/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA106 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat control, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed to preclude a stall. Contributing to the accident was carburetor icing conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Loss of control - in flight, emergency descent/landing - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - tundra ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot was preparing to land at a remote landing site, and pushed the engine mixture control to full rich. The pilot said the engine rpm began decreasing, and the engine lost power when he moved the mixture toward its previous lean position. He indicated that there was rain in the vicinity, and the weather conditions were "ideal for carburetor icing." He said the airplane stalled from about 50 feet above the ground, and collided with the ground. The pilot reported that he did not believe there was any mechanical malfunction. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 2007, about 1200 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4468Z, sustained substantial damage when it collided with terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power, about 36 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The non-certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area of the accident. The flight originated from Fairbanks, and no flight plan was filed. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 26, the pilot reported that he was preparing to land near the Wood River, and pushed the engine mixture control to full rich. The engine rpm began decreasing, and the engine lost power when he moved the mixture toward its previous lean position. The airplane then stalled from about 50 feet above the ground, and collided with the ground. The airplane received structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there was rain in the vicinity, and the meteorological conditions were "ideal for carburetor icing." In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, he indicated that he did not believe there was any mechanical malfunction. The pilot's airman certificate was revoked in October, 2005 by the Federal Aviation Administration. He had about 7,100 hours of flight experience prior to the revocation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4468Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4468Z-2018-02-14), registration cancelled 2018-02-14, S/N 18-8817, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 188817 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert Logan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: PAFA, Fairbanks, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; seat: front; flight hours: 7,100 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F ## Other investigations on N4468Z (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 ANC01LA067](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA067), Jun 3, 2001: Piper PA-18 (N4468Z), Minto, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and an excessive descent rate resulting in a hard landing during an aborted takeoff. Factors in the accident were a collision of the… 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.