Piper PA-18 accident near Chickaloon, AK
On November 10, 2022, a Piper PA-18 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Chickaloon, AK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 10, 2022
- Place
- Chickaloon, AK
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 61.781°N, 148.462°W
- NTSB ID
- 20221114106278
Official records · ANC23FA004
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn November 10, 2022, about 1140 Alaska standard time, a Piper PA-18 airplane, N7123K, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chickaloon, Alaska. The student pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. A friend of the pilot reported that the accident pilot departed in his airplane as a flight of two along the Matanuska River, with another friend in a Cessna 172. He stated that the two airplanes departed Wolf Lake Airport (4AK6), Palmer, Alaska, about 1100. According to the friend, the pilot in the Cessna stated he was flying just above and behind the Piper PA-18. He saw the Piper descend and fly at a low altitude along the river, then strike an unmarked cable that was suspended across the river, about 30 ft above the water. The airplane came to rest inverted in the river. He landed and notified the Alaska State Troopers of the accident. The cable was not new and there was no cable marking system installed. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot’s logbooks were not located. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONThe maintenance logbooks were not recovered. AIRPORT INFORMATIONThe maintenance logbooks were not recovered. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATIONThe airplane was recovered from the river for examination. The wings were impact separated; the fuselage was intact and impact damaged. A portion of the cable remained wrapped around the right wing. The engine remained attached to the airframe. The propeller blades remained attached to the engine crankshaft flanges; gouges were present a
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to fly at low altitude, which resulted in a collision with a cable.
More accidents in AK
- Beech 1900C, Nov 23, 1987
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Browse: Alaska · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
