Piper PA-18-150 accident near Kashwitna, Alaska, April 24, 1993
On April 24, 1993 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N3741Z, was destroyed in an accident near Kashwitna, Alaska. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND HIS INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION FOR HIGH MOUNTAIN TERRAIN BIG GAME OPERATIONS. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE HIGH TERRAIN CONDITION AND THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 1993 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Kashwitna, Alaska
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N3741Z · registry record · serial 7497
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT/CERTIFIED HUNTING GUIDE, HAD 3 HRS SELF TAUGHT EXPERIENCE IN TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED PA18 AND 25 HOURS TOTAL SOLO TIME. THIS WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT AS PILOT FOR BIG GAME SPOTTING. THE PILOT HAD NO PREVIOUS PREPARATION FOR HIGH TERRAIN FLYING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND VERTICALLY IMPAILED IN A SLOPING SNOWFIELD IN THE 5000 FT ELEVATION BOWL SURROUNDED BY 7000 FT TERRAIN. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE PILOT'S FOURTH FLIGHT IN THE PA-18, WITH 4.3 HOURS OF TOTAL SOLO TIME IN THE MAKE/MODEL.
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: 78 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 78 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI Anchorage AK at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from PAQ, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.