# Accident 19970626016009A: Piper PA18125, Birchwood, AK, June 26, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 26, 1997, 10:30 local time
- Place: Birchwood, AK
- Airport: Birchwood Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.4095° N, 149.1699° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4095&lon=-149.1699&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1386A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1386A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-125 (registry code 7101812, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-125) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18125
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2B
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total, 150 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC97LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA091) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970626016009A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

LOST POWER ON CLIMBOUT. TURNED BACK LANDED IN TREES. FUEL SELECTOR O RING SPLIT. NO DETENIES. WATER IN MAGAS FUEL.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ANC97LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC97LA091), Jun 26, 1997: Piper PA-18 (N1386A), Chugiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: water contamination in the fuel, the second pilot's inadequate preflight/preparation to ensure all water was drained from the airplane fuel tanks, and inadequate supervision by the first pilot (CFI).…

## Other reports on N1386A (5)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20171129022329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171129022329A), Nov 29, 2017: Piper PA-18-125 (N1386A), Tatitna, AK, Substantial damage. The pilot was doing a test landing to determine the depth and drag of the snow. Upon the first pass and initial touchdown there was excessive and unforeseen…
- [Incident 20060523008229I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060523008229I), May 23, 2006: Piper PA18125 (N1386A), Chigagoft Bay, AK, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot and 1 pax took off in 30KT gusty right hand crosswind on a sloped beach. After take off pilot encountered wind gust that drifted airplane over the…
- [Accident 20030923036399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030923036399A), Sep 23, 2003: Piper PA18125 (N1386A), Tanana, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated that 20 knot winds and low level turbulence at tree-top level, light winds with occasional gusts at the surface caused the left wing to…
- [Accident 19990813012039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990813012039A), Aug 13, 1999: Piper PA18125 (N1386A), Anchorage, AK, Substantial damage. (Tty) acft ground looped on takeoff. (.19) on August 13, 1999, about 1705 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N1386A, sustained…
- [Incident 19790803029919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790803029919I), Aug 3, 1979: Piper PA18125 (N1386A), Chugiak, AK, Minor damage. Pilot lost directional control after touchdown.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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