# NTSB ANC26LA069: Piper PA-18-150, N824JT, Mekoryuk, AK, July 7, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 7, 2026, 14:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Mekoryuk, AK · remote open tundra
- Coordinates: 60.30846, -165.96901
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.3085&lon=-165.9690&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203352
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC26LA069
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203352/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC26LA069

## Preliminary report

On July 7, 2026 about 1430 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N824JT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mekoryuk, Alaska. The pilot and one passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135, on-demand charter flight. The airplane, owned and operated by Renfro’s Alaskan Adventures, departed from the Mekoryuk airport (MYU) at 1321 to conduct aerial game surveys for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. About 1 hour and 10 minutes into the flight, about 200 ft. above the ground (agl) the engine began to run rough. The pilot applied carburetor heat, switched the fuel selector to both and began using different power settings. The engine initially began to run normally but subsequently loss partial power. The pilot elected to make a precautionary landing to the tundra, but while on final approach, all engine power was lost. The airplane touched down wings level and a slight nose up pitch. The landing gear separated from the fuselage and the airplane slid to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A wreckage examination is pending recovery of the wreckage.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-18-150, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=7101828), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N824JT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N824JT), registered now, S/N 18-6040, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-150
- Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-6040
- Year built: 1957
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft - state, Part 91
- Operator: Renfro's Alaskan Adventures
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PAMY, Mekoryuk, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.60 inHg
- Observed at: PAMY, 4 nm away
- METAR: SPECI PAMY 080132Z AUTO 09012KT 10SM BKN013 OVC020 11/11 A2960 RMK AO2

## 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 20260707008289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260707008289A), Jul 7, 2026: Piper PA-18-150, Mekoryuk, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot narrative: "after refueling in pamy, the adf&g biologist and I departed to conduct part 91 aerial game surveys. About an hour and ten minutes into 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.

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