Piper PA-18-150 accident near Wasilla, Alaska, June 8, 1991
On June 8, 1991 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N4319Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE COLLISION WITH THE WIRES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1991 · about 10:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4319Z · registry record · serial 18-2681
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRSTRIP AND CLIMBED TO 500 FEET AGL WHERE HE REDUCED POWER. HE THEN SWITCHED ON HIS FUEL TRANSFER PUMP AND THEN SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK POSITION TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK POSITION. THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE AFTER HE SELECTED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE. DURING HIS FORCED LANDING, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK POWERLINES. SUBSEQUENT ENGINE EXAMINATION AND RUN SHOWED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED NO ABNORMALITIES.
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: 2,230 hours in all; 2,008 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,264 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 1990; 209 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jackfish Landin AK at 5:05 pm
- Destination: Lake Creek AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N4319Z 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.