# Accident 20000609042299A: Piper PA18150, Skwentna, AK, June 9, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 2000, 18:00 local time
- Place: Skwentna, AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.9291° N, 151.7292° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.9291&lon=-151.7292&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9739P (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA18150
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,761 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC00LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000609042299A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JUNE 9, 2000, ABOUT 1445 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A WHEEL-EQUIPPED PIPER PA-18-150, N9739P, SUSTAINE SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING AT AN OFF AIRPORT SITE LOCATED ABOUT 35 MILES NW OF SKWENTNA, AK. THE SOLO CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VFR PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VMC PREVAILED; NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT HILLTOP AIRSTRIP, CHUGIAK, AK, ABOUT 1230. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, ALL ENGINE POWER WAS LOST. HE SAID THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS ON THE RIGHT FUEL TANK AND THAT HE INTENDED TO "RUN THE RIGHT TANK DRY," THEN SWITCH TANKS. AS THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, HE SWITCHED THE SELECTOR TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK, BUT ENGINE POWER WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY RESTORED, AND HE SELECTED A FORCED LANDING AREA ON A SANDY RIVER BANK. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, AS HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE AIRPLANE SLOWLY NOSED OVER. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING STRUT, AND RUDDER. THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT, HE ADDED HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM, WHICH MADE THE BRAKESMORE SENSITIVE.

## 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 ANC00LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA066), Jun 9, 2000: Piper PA-18-150 (N9739P), Skwentna, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper positioning of the fuel tank selector, and fuel starvation. A factor in the accident was the improper service of the airplane's hydraulic brake system.

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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