Piper PA 18A accident near Girdwood, Alaska, December 21, 2015
On December 21, 2015 at about 11:00 pm local time, a 1955 Piper PA 18A, registered N2791P, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Girdwood, Alaska (Girdwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Fuel contamination resulting in the loss of engine power, a forced landing on a highway, and subsequent right wing impact with highway signage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 2015 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Girdwood, Alaska · Girdwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18A 105SPECIAL, built 1955 · all PA 18As on the register
- Registration
- N2791P · registry record · serial 18-4426
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane departed the runway and climbed to 3000 feet above ground level. She reported that while maneuvering, the airplane lost engine power. After several attempts to restart the engine, the pilot made a forced landing on a highway bridge. She reported that during the landing roll, the airplane's right wing struck a sign that was affixed to the bridge. According to the pilot, at the time of the accident, there were twenty gallons of fuel on board the airplane. She reported that the airframe and power plant mechanic removed approximately two cups of water from the fuel tanks after the accident in preparation for the airplane's recovery. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar and aileron.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel contamination during maneuvering defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Knowledge › Knowledge of equipment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › Low temperature › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 263.3 hours in all; 206.3 in this make and model; 0.5 in the last 90 days; 0.5 in the last 30 days; 263.3 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 27, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,396.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,499 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 2,613 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AQY Girdwood AK
- Destination: AQY Girdwood AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 14°F (-10°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.17 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from ANC, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N2791P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.