Piper PA-18 accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska, July 21, 1993
On July 21, 1993 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N472GF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Port Alsworth, Alaska (Port Alsworth airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL CONTAMINATION AND THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRSPEED WITH WHICH TO MAKE A NORMAL LANDING FOLLOWING THE ENGINE POWER LOSS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 1993 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Port Alsworth, Alaska · Port Alsworth · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N472GF · no longer on the register · serial 18-8608
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER PERFORMING A TOUCH AND GO LANDING, AND REACHING APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET AGL DURING THE STEEP CLIMB OUT, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED HARD BACK ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST WASHED THE AIRPLANE AND STEAMED CLEANED THE ENGINE, AND WAS GOING TO FLY AROUND THE PATTERN A COUPLE TIMES TO DRY THINGS OFF. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE'S TANKS CONTAINED ABOUT 7 GALLONS OF FUEL. WATER WAS FOUND MIXED WITH THE FUEL IN THE GASCOLATOR.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,020 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,176 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 28, 1989; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Z30 at 5:50 pm
- Destination: Z30
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from Z30, 1 miles away
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.
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.