Piper PA-28 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, January 22, 1994
On January 22, 1994 at about 5:33 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N9193W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION FROM WATER AND/OR ICE CRYSTALS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE IMPROPER PREFLIGHT OF THE FUEL SUMPS BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 1994 · about 5:33 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N9193W · registry record · serial 2810551
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT AND LANDING AT THE AIRPORT HE HAD JUST DEPARTED FROM. THE PILOT DID NOT USE A CONTAINER TO RECOVER THE FUEL FROM THE 'LOW POINT' FUEL SUMP ON THE BELLY OF THE PLANE DURING HIS PREFLIGHT ACTIVITIES. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE OR WITH THE ENGINE DURING A POST ACCIDENT RUNUP. WHILE REMOVING THE LEFT WING'S FUEL TANK TO REPAIR THE WING, ICE CRYSTALS WERE FOUND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK.
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: 798 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,407 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1993; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ENA Kenai AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 3,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:37 pm from MRI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC94LA030.