Piper PA-23-160 accident near Anchorage, Alaska, December 19, 1998
On December 19, 1998 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-160, registered N4185P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill Field). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to fuel contamination. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 19, 1998 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N4185P · registry record · serial 23-1673
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was attempting to ferry the airplane to the Anchorage International Airport, located about 3 miles from Merrill Field. He stated that the airplane did not have a current annual inspection, and that he had obtained an FAA ferry permit for the one-time maintenance ferry flight. He added that the airplane had not been operated for about two months, and that the airplane was stored outside with the main fuel tanks about 3/4 full. The pilot reported that during the initial climb from runway 24, about 100 feet above the runway, engine power was lost on the right engine, followed by a surge in engine power, and then total loss of power on the right engine. He stated that the airplane had progressed beyond a point where he could safely abort the takeoff, and he elected to continue the takeoff with one engine operating. He said that he was unable to maintain altitude, airspeed, and directional control due to the inoperative engine on the right side, and made a forced landing. The airplane descended into a railroad maintenance yard, struck a power line, and a maintenance tool shed. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and tail. A fuel sample taken from the airplane wreckage exhibited visible contaminants.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,567 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 6,676 as pilot in command; 661 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,898 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 10, 1997; 108 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: ANC AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.