Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Javron PA-18 Replica, N368G: Accident occurred October 23, 2021 in Willow, Alaska

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident. 

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska 


Location: Willow, Alaska
Accident Number: ANC22LA004
Date and Time: October 23, 2021, 18:25 Local
Registration: N368G
Aircraft: GREGG ORIGER PA-18 REPLICA 
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On October 23, 2021, about 1825 Alaska daylight time, a Gregg Origer PA-18 Replica airplane, N368G sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident about 2 miles south of Willow, Alaska. The pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot had departed from Anderson Lake Airport (0AK1), Wasilla, Alaska and was returning to Minuteman Strip Airport (AK68), Willow, Alaska when the accident occurred. A witness located about .30 nautical miles to the southeast observed the airplane fly over his location and reported that the engine appeared to be at a low power setting, as it was fairly quiet, which he thought was unusual.
Subsequently, the airplane made a turn and disappeared from view. He then heard an increase in engine power followed by the sound of an impact. He and another Good Samaritan responded to the scene to render aid. He stated that at no point did he hear any unusual sounds from the airplane and the engine appeared to be operating normally.

The airplane impacted in a near vertical attitude at an elevation of about 274 ft. All the airplane’s major components were located at the main accident site.

A detailed wreckage examination is pending. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: GREGG ORIGER 
Registration: N368G
Model/Series: PA-18 REPLICA 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PAWS,354 ft msl
Observation Time: 18:56 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 17 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 7°C /-2°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 50°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.12 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Wasilla , AK
Destination: Willow, AK

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious 
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 61.718812,-150.05409 



WILLOW, Alaska - A small plane crash at a private air strip in Willow sent two people on board to the hospital on Saturday.

The crash, according to Matanuska-Susitna Borough Department of Emergency Services Director Ken Barkley, happened just after 6 p.m. Saturday at a private air strip at the end of Winter Park Road.

Troopers responded with emergency service personnel to the scene of the Javron PA-18 Replica aircraft near mile 68 of the Parks Highway, according to an online dispatch report. It sustained significant damage in the crash, troopers wrote.

No fire was caused as a result of the crash and Mat-Su Borough Emergency Services were able to transport both crash victims to separate hospitals for care.

A relative near the scene told Alaska’s News Source his parents were the only people on the plane, flown by his father. The pilot took the brunt of the injuries, the relative said, and was taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center. His mother went to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

Troopers confirmed that the passenger is currently receiving care in the Mat-Su. The pilot is in critical condition in Anchorage.

National Transportation Safety Board Chief for the Alaska Region Clint Johnson said on Sunday that an NTSB investigation has begun. Johnson said the Javron PA-18 Replica that crashed was an experimental kit built. Johnson reported that Federal Aviation Administration personnel were on scene in Willow to document the wreckage site and relocate the aircraft as part of the investigation.

“This is what they refer to as a Cub replica, so it is a kit-built airplane,” Johnson said. “We don’t know a lot beyond that at this point.”

Johnson said that Senior Aviation Accident Investigator Brice Banning would be the investigator in charge for the follow up investigation as to what caused the experimental aircraft to crash with two people inside.

4 comments:

  1. Providence Alaska Medical Center located 73 miles and Mat-Su Regional Medical Center located 30 miles from accident site. Emergency services might be the last thought one has in planning a flight, yet the most important when called upon.

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  2. Hopefully all will be ok and Thank you for putting up a "rules of engagement" disclaimer some of this stuff has been way off the mark.

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  3. Prayers for the injured. The last aircraft I saw, personally, standing next to it, was a C152 that a student pilot AND HIS PASSENGER had died in. The student entered a spin on the base to final turn and the aircraft firewall was level with the ground. Neither survived. I hope this one turns out better than that one did.

    I'm very happy to see the disclaimer below.

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  4. As above, prayers to the injured and a speedy recovery.

    The Javron has a very robust tubuler cage construction.The cockpit "cage" seems especially well designed. I am beginning to give serious thought to how well the manufacturers of kit planes and others design the cockpit area.

    I don't have an answers...just questions in my head as I continue to ponder. I have a lot of respect for the updated Javron PA-18 replica design.

    ReplyDelete