Piper PA-18-150 accident near Paxson, Alaska, August 13, 2013
On August 13, 2013 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N44RT, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Paxson, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power due to a loose throttle cable clamp.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2013 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Paxson, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N44RT · registry record · serial 18-8927
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that she was on a cross-country flight in a float-equipped airplane, and that, about 20 minutes into the flight, the engine rpm suddenly dropped to idle. She moved the throttle forward, and the engine momentarily responded, but it again dropped to idle power. She switched fuel tanks, but the engine still did not respond, so she initiated a forced landing to brush-covered tundra. During the forced landing, the airplane nosed over, which caused substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. Examination of the engine revealed that the clamp that secures the throttle cable was loose, which allowed the throttle cable housing to move inside the clamp. The engine was started without tightening the throttle cable clamp, and it operated normally through various power settings. Given the loose throttle cable clamp and the pilot's account of the accident sequence, it is likely that the throttle cable housing was free to move when the throttle lever moved, which limited the amount of throttle authority available to the pilot.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Malfunction
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 397 hours in all; 183 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 11, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,525 hours in all; 1,525 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 12, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 27, 2013; 10 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Tangle Lakes AK
- Destination: PALH Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.
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.