Piper PA-18 accident near Skwentna, Alaska, August 14, 2002
On August 14, 2002 at about 11:39 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N4065Z, was destroyed in an accident near Skwentna, Alaska (Skwentna airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while on approach to land, which resulted in an inadvertent stall, and subsequent collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2002 · about 11:39 pm local time
- Place
- Skwentna, Alaska · Skwentna · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N4065Z · no longer on the register · serial 18-8075
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot departed in a wheel-equipped airplane with one passenger on a cross-country flight en route to a remote airstrip. Family members reported that the pilot was en route to the family's remote cabin located adjacent to the destination airstrip, with an anticipated return 3 days later. When the airplane did not return, the flight was reported overdue. Search personnel checked the pilot's cabin and reported that there were no signs that anyone had been at the cabin recently. A review of the accident pilot's flight plan for the outbound portion of the flight revealed that the pilot cancelled his flight plan while still airborne, over the destination airport. Ground search personnel and aerial search personnel located the airplane wreckage along the anticipated final approach path to the destination airstrip. The accident site consisted of thick-forested terrain, with trees extending upwards of 30 feet. The airplane wreckage was not easily visible due to thick vegetation. The fuselage came to rest in an inverted and nose down attitude. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions. No emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal was received from the airplane. The ELT was found detached from its mounting tray, with the antenna lead still connected, and the switch in the ARM position. The ELT was sent to the manufacturer for disassembly and testing under supervision of the FAA. The test revealed that the G-switch, and all other components in the ELT, operated within the prescribed parameters. A review of recorded data obtained from the pilot's hand held GPS unit revealed that the airplane approached the destination airstrip from the southeast, and entered a right downwind approach for runway 27. The airplane then proceeded southeast bound, past the approach end of runway 27, and made a gradual turn, consistent with a right base leg for landing on runway 27. As the right turn progressed, the rate of turn increased sharply. The last GPS track recorded indicated a magnetic heading of 095 degrees. An autopsy of the pilot concluded he did not die immediately upon impact, but did not establish a time of death. Toxicological testing found very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol in the pilot's blood.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 300 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z41 Anchorage AK at 5:45 pm
- Destination: SKW Skwentna AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from SKW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N4065Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.