Piper PA-18 accident near Port Alsworth, AK

On September 13, 1986, a Piper PA-18 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Port Alsworth, AK. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.

Date

September 13, 1986

Place

Port Alsworth, AK

Aircraft

Piper PA-18 · Airplane

Injuries

2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor

Damage

Destroyed

Position

60.201°N, 154.279°W

NTSB ID

20001213X34665

NTSB summary

On September 13, 1986, at an estimated time of 1350 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N9109D, collided with steep terrain about 50 miles northeast of Port Alsworth, Alaska, at 60.55 north latitude, 153.29 west longitude. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, operated by the pilot, was destroyed by impact and postimpact fire. The certificated private pilot, and the one passenger aboard, received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of departure, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1145, and was en route to a remote hunting camp. According to a family friend, the accident pilot was to drop off the passenger at an undisclosed hunting site, and return to Anchorage to pick up a second passenger. The pilot failed to return for the second trip, and an aerial search was initiated on September 20. Low ceilings along the pilot's intended route of flight limited airborne search efforts. No emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was received from the airplane. On October 6, 1999, the pilot of an airplane scouting game, located the airplane wreckage about 3,000 feet msl, in an area of mountainous terrain. INJURIES TO PERSONS Both occupants received fatal injuries. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT The airplane was destroyed by a combination of impact forces, and a postcrash fire. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane single-en

Probable cause

Undetermined.

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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.