# NTSB ANC73AA020: Piper PA-18, N3844Z, Gakona, AK, September 15, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 15, 1972
- Place: Gakona, AK · GAKONA, AK
- Location: 62.3019° N, 145.3019° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Gakona, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=62.3019&lon=-145.3019&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 2, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 168202
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC73AA020
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC73AA020

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3934  72/9/15    GAKONA,ALAS         CHAMPION 7GC        CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             STUDENT, AGE 42, 110
        TIME - 0830                    N7573E              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  2  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAKE LOUISE,ALAS           UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - RADAR SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - YES
        REMARKS- FLOAT EQUIPPED ACFT. LOOKING FOR MOOSE,IN WESTERLY DIRECTION IN SLIGHT DESCENT.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3934  72/9/15    GAKONA,ALAS         PIPER PA-18         CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 44, 2000
        TIME - 0830                    N3844Z              PX-  1  0  0  BUSINESS                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  1  0  0                            TYPE, UNK/NR INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MOOSE LAKE,ALAS            UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - NO CONTROL                          RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - RADAR SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROL ZONE/AREA - NO
          EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - YES
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FLOAT EQUIPPED ACFT. IN CLIMBING L TURN HEADING EASTERLY.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N3844Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3844Z-1973-06-22), registration cancelled 1973-06-22, S/N 18-7598 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N7573E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7573E-1973-09-14), registration cancelled 1973-09-14, S/N 7GC-16 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7GC
- Registry model: [Champion 7GC](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gc) (registry code 21101N2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

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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