NTSB ANC93LA021 — 1992-12-13 · ANCHORAGE, Alaska, United States

Current FAA registration · N1954P

Make / Model: PIPER PA-18A 150
Year of manufacture: 1955 · 37 years old at event
Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines: 1 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19570329
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S A17DB0

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N1954P Piper PA-18 None

Probable cause & findings

THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A SHORT IN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR, AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE PILOT TO MAKE THE FORCED LANDING ON.

Factual narrative

DURING THE TAKEOFF CLIMB THE PILOT SMELLED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS BURNING ELECTRICAL WIRES, AND THE COCKPIT FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THE OFF AIRPORT FORCED LANDING ON THE MUD FLATS RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE WHEN IT NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION FOUND THAT THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR HAD SHORTED OUT. THIS CAUSED A BRIEF LOCALIZED FIRE WHICH BURNED AND SHORTED OUT THE MAGNETO 'P' LEADS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1992_ANC93LA021.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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