Piper PA 18 225 DD accident near Mccall, Idaho, April 23, 2019
On April 23, 2019 at about 2:20 am local time, a 2004 Piper PA 18 225 DD, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N727WW, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Mccall, Idaho (Mccall Muni airport). 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
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 2019 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Mccall, Idaho · Mccall Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 18 225 DD No Series, built 2004, amateur-built · all PA 18 225 DDs on the register
- Registration
- N727WW · no longer on the register · serial PA0204
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was descending toward the destination airport after about 1 hour of flight when the engine lost total power. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and the airplane impacted trees about 4 miles from the destination. During recovery of the airplane, about 1.5 gallons of fuel was found in the right-wing tank. The left-wing tank was void of fuel. The fuel selector was found in the left-tank position. Postaccident examination of the engine following recovery from the accident site revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he departed on the flight with about 14.5 gallons of fuel onboard; however, the amount of fuel onboard at the time of the accident was not determined. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 30, 2018; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C4P (piston); 147 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LLJ Challis ID at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from KMYL, 4 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMYL 230151Z AUTO 26005KT 10SM CLR 13/M01 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP218 T01281006 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 17, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement - Engine Examination | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N727WW 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.