# NTSB ANC91FA067: Piper PA-18-150, N4319Z, Wasilla, AK, June 8, 1991

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 8, 1991, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC)
- Place: Wasilla, AK
- Coordinates: 61.619483, -148.979095 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6195&lon=-148.9791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 5482
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC91FA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/5482/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC91FA067

## Probable cause

THE POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE COLLISION WITH THE WIRES.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - wire,transmission

## Analysis

THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRSTRIP AND CLIMBED TO 500 FEET AGL WHERE HE REDUCED POWER.  HE THEN SWITCHED ON HIS FUEL TRANSFER PUMP AND THEN SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK POSITION TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK POSITION. THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE AFTER HE SELECTED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK.  HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE.  DURING HIS FORCED LANDING, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK POWERLINES. SUBSEQUENT ENGINE EXAMINATION AND RUN SHOWED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.  EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED NO ABNORMALITIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4319Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4319Z), registered now, S/N 18-8632, built 1967 (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 O-360-C4P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c4p) (registry code 42289, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18-2681
- Airframe hours: 3264
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: David L. Grinde
- Registered owner: David L. Grinde
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1990, 209 hours before
- Departed: JACKFISH LANDIN, AK
- Destination: LAKE CREEK, AK

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 2,230 total, 2,008 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19910608020459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910608020459A), Jun 8, 1991: Piper PA18150, Wasilla, AK, Substantial damage. Engine quit en route over airstrip. Circled to land on strip. Hit wires and crashed. Using non standard auto fuel.

## Other investigations on N4319Z (4)

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 ANC04FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04FA056), May 22, 2004: Piper PA-18-150 (N4319Z), Cold Bay, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A loss of engine power during the final approach to land for an undetermined reason, and the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the ensuing emergency descent, which resulted in an…
- [NTSB ANC98LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA044), May 5, 1998: Piper PA-18-160 (N4319Z), Talkeetna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate aircraft preflight. A factor was the inadvertent activation of the parking brake.
- [NTSB ANC96LA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA073), May 17, 1996: Piper PA-18 (N4319Z), Cold Bay, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's excessive taxi speed. Factors associated with the accident were: the pilot's improper preflight inspection of the airplane, and the entanglement of the left main landing gear brake and…
- [NTSB FTW75FQG25](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW75FQG25), Oct 16, 1974: Piper PA-18 (N4319Z), San Angelo, TX, substantial damage

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.