# NTSB ANC21LA040: Piper PA-18-105 Special, N5489H, Gakona, AK, May 10, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 10, 2021, 15:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Gakona, AK - Coordinates: 62.288694, -145.29136 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.2887&lon=-145.2914&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration (OPS) - NTSB case key (mKey): 103094 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC21LA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103094/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103094 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21LA040 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to initiate a flight with a failed mixture control cable which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: mixture control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md?model=7101808), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7101808), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=7101808), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101808), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, the mixture control had been "working really hard" during the initial flight, so he landed at a remote site to investigate. Once on the ground, he found that the mixture control cable, just behind the instrument panel, had failed. He manually opened the mixture control lever and departed for his destination airport. While en route, at about 700 ft above ground level the engine lost all power. He made an emergency off-airport landing to a heavily forested area and the airplane impacted several small to medium sized spruce trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and left lift strut. The pilot stated that after the accident, he found the mixture control arm had that the mixture control arm had become detached from his previous temporary repair, and it was in the closed position. Additionally, he noted that he made a poor decision to fly the airplane with a failed mixture control cable. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5489H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5489H), registered now, S/N 18-80, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-105 SPECIAL - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-105 SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-105-special) (registry code 7101808) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-80 - Year built: 1950 - Airframe hours: 10319.6 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 2020 - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; last flight review January 23, 2021; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 20,000 total, 20,000 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.71 inHg - Observed at: PAGK, 9 nm away - METAR: PAGK 152153Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM SCT050 BKN090 11/M02 A2971 RMK AO2 RAB25E41 SLP071 P0000 T01061022 TSNO ## Other investigations on N5489H (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 ANC00LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA134), Sep 29, 2000: Piper PA-18-105 (N5489H), Slana, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent touch down. A factor associated with the accident was deep snow on the airstrip. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103094. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12352255&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20accident%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (pilot) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 316 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12921125&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20(Pilot)-Rel.pdf - Photo (source unknown) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 279 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12351210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-Rel.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.