Piper PA-18A accident near Anchorage, Alaska, March 29, 2021
On March 29, 2021, a 1957 Piper PA-18A, registered N1968P, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Anchorage, Alaska (Lake Hood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 2021
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Lake Hood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A, built 1957 · all PA-18As on the register
- Registration
- N1968P · registry record · serial 18-4200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before landing, the pilot selected a different fuel tank, and during final approach, the engine lost total power. The pilot switched fuel tanks while maneuvering the airplane for a forced landing, during which the left wing impacted a light pole and the airplane spun to the left before impacting the ground in a nose-down attitude. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. The temperature and due point spread made it unlikely for carburetor icing conditions at the time of the accident.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,217 hours in all; 12.5 in this make and model; 211.1 in the last 90 days; 122.3 in the last 30 days; 3,027.8 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 18, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,573.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 26, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2D (piston); 2,791 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UUO Willow AK at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway W, 4,541 ft by 188 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.24 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PALH, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PALH 282353Z 05006KT 10SM OVC080 M01/M09 A3024 RMK AO2 SLP243 T10111089 11011 21061 56018
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC21FA028.