# NTSB ANC81DAG51: Piper PA-22, N4585Z, Wasilla, AK, July 21, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 21, 1981
- Place: Wasilla, AK · WASILLA, AK
- Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC81DAG51
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAG51

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1837  81/7/21  NR.WASILLA,AK         PIPER PA-22         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 28, 224
        TIME - 1230                    N4585Z              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 40 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - PHILOS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PALMER,AK                  WASILLA,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXERCISED POOR JUDGMENT
           POWERPLANT - IGNITION SYSTEM: SWITCHES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISCONNECTED
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - GROUNDED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OBJECTS OR OBSTRUCTIONS
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- PLT HAD WRONG KEY FOR IGNITION.DISCONNECTED P-LEADS TO OP ENG.STRUCK PWR LINE.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4585Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Philos

## 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 19810721047079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810721047079A), Jul 21, 1981: Piper PA22108, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed during attempted emergency landing. Pilot had disconnected leads to start airplane.

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.
