Piper PA-18-160 accident near Big Lake, Alaska, June 22, 1990
On June 22, 1990 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-18-160, registered N4431Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Big Lake, Alaska (Big Lake 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS RESULTING IN AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A DITCH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 1990 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Big Lake, Alaska · Big Lake
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-160 · all PA-18-160s on the register
- Registration
- N4431Z · registry record · serial 18-8769
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE HAD SPENT THREE YEARS IN THE SHOP BEING REBUILT AND THIS WAS ITS FIRST FLIGHT. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TOPPED OFF THE FUEL TANKS, PERFORMED A RUNUP AND THEN SAT ON THE END OF THE RUNWAY WHILE HE ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE COMMUNICATION RADIO. HE THEN TAXIED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND STARTED THE TAKEOFF. UPON REACHING 150 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND HE REDUCED THE POWER BY 200 RPM AND THE ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A ROAD STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE AIRPLANE LANDED SHORT IN THE DITCH. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION AND ENGINE RUN SHOWED NO MECHANICAL IRREGULARITIES WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM.
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: 415 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 415 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 2,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 N4431Z 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.