Piper PA-18-150 accident near Deadhorse, Alaska, July 26, 1994
On July 26, 1994 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-150, registered N4341Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deadhorse, Alaska. 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
THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1994 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Deadhorse, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N4341Z · registry record
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CONDUCTING THE FLIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF GAME SPOTTING. THE PILOT LANDED THE AIRPLANE ABOUT 3/4THS DOWN A 800 FOOT LONG UNIMPROVED STRIP AND ELECTED TO GO-AROUND. DURING THE GO-AROUND, THE PLANE'S ENGINE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER, AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON A ROCK STREWN SURFACE. A SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE PLANE'S ENGINE BY THE PILOT/OPERATOR DID NOT REVEAL THE CAUSE OF THE PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,400 hours in all; 1,600 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1994; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Canvas Back Leasing
The flight
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°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.
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.