# Accident 19990703008189A: Piper PA18150, New Castle, VA, July 3, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 3, 1999, 14:21 local time
- Place: New Castle, VA
- Airport: New Castle International Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 37.4994° N, 80.1106° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4994&lon=-80.1106&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4494Z, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4494Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-18-150 (registry code 7101828, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150
- Reported engine: LYC O320A1A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 125 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA164) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990703008189A

## Narrative

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

ACFT CRASHED AT THE NEW CASTLE AIRPORT DUE TO UNKN CIRCUMSTANCES, SOLE OCCUPANT AIRLIFTED TO LOCAL HOSPITAL, 1 SERIOUS INJURY. (-23) ON JULY 3, 1999, AT 1421 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-18-150, N4494Z WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKEOFF AT NEW CASTLE AIRPORT, NEW CASTLE, VIRGINIA. THE CERTIFICATED COMMERCIAL PILOT, MR. CHARLES SHUFFLER, SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT IN PREPARATION OF TOWING A GLIDER.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR OPERATION UNDER 14 CFR PART 91.  ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE GRASS RUNWAY AND ASCENDED APPROX. 100 FEET.  THE WITNESS HEARD A DECREASE IN THE ENGINE NOISE, AS IF THE ENGINE WENT TO IDLE.  THE PILOT MADE A LEFT TURN TO AVOID UTILITY WIRES AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN IN A FIELD APPROX. 100 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY.  A LARGE TREE AT THE END OF RUNWAY 18 WAS STRUCK A GLANCING BLOW PRIOR TO IMPACT.  (.4) AFTER TAKEOFF, APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER.  THE PILOT MADE A LEFT TURN TO AVOID UTILITY WIRES, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED TERRAIN AT A FIELD ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT.  EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRA TION INSPECTOR DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS. THE INSPECTOR OBSERVED THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE IN THE 'OFF' POSITION. HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY FUEL PRESENT IN THE CARBURETOR BOWL OR FUEL STRAINER.  HE ADDED THAT THE FUEL STRAINER AND CARBURETOR BOWL WERE NOT COMPROMISED DURING THE ACCIDENT.  HE INTERVIEWED THE RESCUE PERSONNEL, AND NONE OF THE PEOPLE INTERVIEWED STATED THAT THEY MOVED THE FUEL SELECTOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSPECTOR OBSERVED THE METAL SKIN, SURROUNDING THE FUEL SELECTOR, BUCKLED.  HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY SCRAPE MARKS NEAR THE FUEL SELECTOR.  WHEN HE ASKED THE PILOT ABOUT THE POSITION OF THE FUEL SELECTOR PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, THE PILOT COULD NOT REMEMBER THE POSITION.

## 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 NYC99LA164](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA164), Jul 3, 1999: Piper PA-18-150 (N4494Z), New Castle, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot tookoff with the fuel tank selector in an improper position (OFF), resulting in fuel starvation.

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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