Piper PA-18-150 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, February 21, 2025
On February 21, 2025 at about 1:42 am local time, a 1979 Piper PA-18-150, registered N2447J, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Wasilla, Alaska (Tidewater Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 21, 2025 · about 1:42 am local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · Tidewater Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150, built 1979 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2447J · registry record · serial 18-7909125
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while performing touch-and-go landings, on final approach with the carburetor heat on, the airplane’s engine suddenly lost total power. After assessing that the airplane had insufficient altitude to glide to the runway, the pilot selected nearby hay flats as a forced landing site. During the forced landing, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane’s right wing impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. A postaccident examination of the engine, including the carburetor heat control, revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Fuel was recovered from both wing fuel tanks and the fuselage sump drains. Although the atmospheric conditions in which the airplane was operating were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings, the pilot’s reported use of carburetor heat during the approach would have prevented the accumulation of carburetor ice. Based on this information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,302 hours in all; 2,400 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 16, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,694.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 2025; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2A (piston); 927 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z40 Goose Bay AK at 8:15 pm
- Destination: 77AK Wasilla AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.30 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from PAWS, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAWS 210056Z AUTO 05011KT 10SM CLR 04/M07 A2930 RMK AO2 SLP925 T00391067
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on March 4, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delete | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Mechanic Examination Notes | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Examination Notes | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Carburetor Icing Probability Graph | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.