# NTSB ANC81DAG86: Piper PA-18, N3906Z, Valdez, AK, September 18, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: September 18, 1981
- Place: Valdez, AK · VALDEZ, AK
- Location: 61.1308° N, 146.3483° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Valdez, AK, within about 8 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1308&lon=-146.3483&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 22, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126769
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC81DAG86
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC81DAG86

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1847  81/9/18  NR.VALDEZ,AK          PIPER PA-18         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 50, 2650
        TIME - 1145                    N3906Z              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 1005 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - UPPER KAINA LAKE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         VALDEZ,AK                    ANCHORAGE,AK
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- FLOAT EQUIPPED.CRASHED ON BRUSH CVRD TRRN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3906Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3906Z-2012-09-24), registration cancelled 2012-09-24, S/N 18-7720, built 1961 (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)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Upper Kaina Lake

## 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 19810918060569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810918060569A), Sep 18, 1981: Piper PA18150, Glennallen, AK, Substantial damage. Engine quit on takeoff and pilot made landing straight ahead, crashing into brush.

## Other investigations on N3906Z (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 ANC92LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC92LA132), Aug 14, 1992: Piper PA-18 (N3906Z), Iliamna, AK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND STALLED THE AIRPLANE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION.

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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