Piper PA-18-150 accident near Akiachak, Alaska, November 11, 2012
On November 11, 2012 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N8466Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Akiachak, Alaska (Akaichak Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion, and the pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the subsequent forced landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 11, 2012 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Akiachak, Alaska · Akaichak Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N8466Y · no longer on the register · serial 18-7309023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot departed on a flight between two remote Alaskan communities; however, because of deteriorating weather conditions along the flight route, he decided to return to his home airport. During the return flight, the pilot became concerned about his remaining fuel and diverted to an alternate airport. When he reached that airport, he elected not to land because he believed that he had enough fuel to reach his home airport. As the flight continued, the engine lost power, but the pilot was able to switch fuel tanks and restart the engine. While maneuvering to land at the closest airport, all engine power was lost, and the pilot selected an off-airport, snow-and tree-covered area for a forced landing. He said that during the approach, the airplane stalled and collided with terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, lift struts, and fuselage. The pilot also reported that while en route to the alternate airport, the instrument panel-mounted carbon monoxide detector turned black. According to the carbon monoxide detector manufacturer, a positive indication for carbon monoxide would be indicated by the detector showing yellow, green, or dark blue color. Any other color would indicate that the detector was contaminated or outdated. No expiration date was recorded on the accident airplane's carbon monoxide detector. A postaccident examination of the airplane’s muffler and cabin heater muff did not disclose any leaks or mechanical anomalies. Therefore, it is unlikely that there was a problem with carbon monoxide during the flight. The pilot indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and noted that the loss of engine power was due to fuel exhaustion.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel exhaustion during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 830 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 721 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 15, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,610 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 10, 2011; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PANI Aniak AK at 8:00 pm
- Destination: PABE Bethel AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from PABE, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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 N8466Y 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.