Event ANC93LA021

1992-12-13 ANCHORAGE, Alaska, United States Airport · Z41 None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N1954P

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

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

Registrant of record

CLARK SHAWN W

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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