# Accident 19990912025309A: Piper PA18A150, Iliamna, AK, September 12, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 12, 1999, 16:30 local time - Place: Iliamna, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Operator: K7AC - Location: 59.8495° N, 154.5592° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=59.8495&lon=-154.5592&mi=10 - Aircraft: N1886P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1886P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-18A 150 (registry code 7101837, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-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 PA18A150 - Reported engine: LYC O360* - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 6,695 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 210 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA138) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990912025309A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (.19) ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1999, ABOUT 1730 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE, N1886P, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A REMOTE AREA, ABOUT 65 MILES WEST OF ILIAMNA, ALASKA, AT LATITUDE 59 DEGREES, 59.46 MINUTES NORTH, AND LONGITUDE 156 DEGREES, 57.38 MINUTES WEST. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) POSITIONING FLIGHT UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY ALLGOOD FLYING SERVICE, CHUGIAK, ALASKA. THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR, ANCHORAGE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (FSDO), TRAVELED TO THE ACCIDENT SCENE AND INTERVIEWED THE PILOT. THE INSPECTOR SAID THE PILOT LANDED TO DROP OFF A PASSENGER AT A HUNTING CAMP. THE PILOT INTENDED TO DEPART AND RETURN TO ILIAMNA. THE PILOT SAID HE DEPARTED DOWNHILL FROM AN AREA ABOUT 800 FEET LONG. THE AIRPLANE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON "BOTH." AS THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, AND CLIMBED TO ABOUT 15 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT SELECTED THE LEFT FUEL TANK, AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO GAIN POWER, BUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND NOSED OVER. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING LIFT STRUT, THE ENGINE MOUNT AND FIREWALL, AND BOTH WINGS. (-23) ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1999, AT ABOUT 1730 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A TUNDRA TIRE EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18 AIRPLANE, N1886P, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A MOUNTAINOUS RIDGE APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES WEST OF ILIAMNA, ALASKA. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY ALLGOOD FLYING SERVICE UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91. THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT, AND WAS UNINJURED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. DURING AN INTERVIEW WITH A FAA INSPECTOR, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST FUELED THE AIRCRAFT, ADDING APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE "BOTH" POSITION. SHORTLY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE LEFT POSITION, AND JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE POWER AGAIN. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND OVERTURNED. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT INCLUDED WING LIFT STRUTS, RIBS, THE ENGINE MOUNT AND FIREWALL. (.4) THE COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATED PILOT LANDED TO DROP OFF A PASSENGER AT A REMOTE HUNTING CAMP. HE PLACED ABOUT 12 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT WING FUEL TANK. THE PILOT THEN DEPARTED DOWNHILL FROM AN AREA ABOUT 800 FEET LONG. THE AIRPLANE FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON 'BOTH.' AS THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, AND CLIMBED TO ABOUT 15 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT SELECTED THE LEFT FUEL TANK, AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO GAIN POWER, BUT THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES AND NOSED OVER. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING LIFT STRUT, THE ENGINE MOUNT AND FIREWALL, AND BOTH WINGS. ## 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 ANC99LA138](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA138), Sep 13, 1999: Piper PA-18 (N1886P), Iliamna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A factor in the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Other reports on N1886P (2) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20130611009899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130611009899A), Jun 11, 2013: Piper PA-18A 150 (N1886P), Juneau, AK, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Stated the aircraft bounced while landing, then a gust of wind from the right swung the tail of the aircraft to the left. She was unable… - [Incident 20130327006219I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130327006219I), Mar 27, 2013: Piper PA-18A 150 (N1886P), Cordova, AK, No damage. Airman encountered a complete engine failure, declared an emergency with juneau flight service station and made a successful, off airport, forced landing. The… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.