# NTSB ANC18LA040: Piper PA 18-150, N624MW, Wasilla, AK, June 2, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 2, 2018, 10:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Coordinates: 61.493331, -149.703048 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4933&lon=-149.7030&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Lycoming Engines, FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97389 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC18LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97389/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97389 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC18LA040 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, shortly after departure for a cross-country flight, the engine lost total power. He was unable to return to the runway, and the airplane impacted trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and rudder. A postaccident engine examination revealed small unidentified contaminants in the gascolator and carburetor bowl. The amount and size of the contaminants were not enough that would be expected to cause a total loss of engine power. After the examination, an engine test run was conducted with no hesitations or anomalies observed. ## Factual narrative On June 2, 2018, about 1025 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N624MW, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power near Lawrence Airstrip (55AK), Wasilla, Alaska. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 visual flight rules flight when the accident occurred. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed 55AK about 1023 destined for Big Lake, Alaska. According to the pilot, shortly after departure from 55AK, all engine power was lost. There were no sights or sounds consistent with a catastrophic engine failure and the engine ceased operation consistent with fuel starvation. The pilot reported the left fuel tank was about ½ full, the right fuel tank was empty, and the fuel selector was on "BOTH.". During the forced landing, the pilot attempted to return to the runway, but impacted a forested area of tall spruce and birch trees, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and rudder. On July 11, 2018 the engine, a Lycoming O-320-A2B, was examined at Alaska Claims Services under the supervision of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) and another NTSB investigator. Prior to removing the engine from the airframe, the gascolator was drained and small amounts of unidentified contaminants were found. The carburetor bowl was then drained with more minute contaminants present. The engine was then removed from the airframe and transported to Alaska Aircraft Engines, Anchorage, Alaska where it was attached to an engine test truck on July 17. A four bladed wooden club propeller was installed for the test run. The engine started within 3 seconds and was warmed at idle power for 5 minutes. The engine RPM was set at idle and maximum power for 5 minutes each followed by rapid manipulations from idle to maximum continuous power. No hesitations or anomalies were observed throughout the engine run. ## Aircraft - Registration: N624MW (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 18-150 (150) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8739 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 4800 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2018, 25 hours before - Departed: 55AK, WASILLA, AK - Destination: BGQ, BIG LAKE, AK - Airport: 55AK, Lawrence Airstrip - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 28, 2018; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,643 total, 4,603 in this make and model, 51 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: PAWS, 7 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20180602006849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180602006849A), Jun 2, 2018: Piper PA-18-150, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he initiated the flight for the purposes of a local fly in. The flight originated at 55AK. The pilot stated that he completed a preflight… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 20, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97389. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 644 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479346&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483209&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479347&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF 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.