Pilot Debrief

PIPER PA-18A 150 near Galena, AK — 2011-09-08

Final reportANC11LA100
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Date
2011-09-08
Location
Galena, AK, USA
Aircraft
PIPER PA-18A 150
Registration
N2694P
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was on a personal cross-country flight after departing a remote hunting camp when the engine lost power; the pilot landed on the tundra, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and empennage. The pilot said that the accident flight was the second flight of the day. Earlier in the day he had attempted the flight but was forced back to the camp by weather. He had borrowed the airplane for the hunting trip and was unfamiliar with the fuel system. The airplane was equipped with modified fuel tanks and a digital fuel totalizer. The pilot was unable to visually check the fuel quantity in the tanks due to the design, but according to the totalizer he should have had enough fuel for the trip. Due to the remote location, the airplane was not examined by the NTSB, and thus no determination was made as to why the engine lost power. Due to the lack of temperature and dew point data, it could not be determined if carburetor icing was a factor in the power loss. The reporting weather station is 60 miles away and the data would probably not be useful.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked fuel before departure to prevent engine power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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